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Author
Topic: Little Hiawata fans
(18 messages)
Matilda
Little Hiawata fans
Message 16 -
2012-08-09 at 22:55:00
Lars, I didn't mean to cast aspersions on Neverland. I was only using as an example of what I mean by treating Indians as a fantasy construct. Mermaids, pirates, Indians, all fairy-tale characters. I don't disapprove of Neverland for that reason. As you say, it is meant to depict the fantasy world of a British boy at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, it's reasonable to ask what a contemporary American Indian child would feel while reading that book, while it's not a concern what a contemporary merchild or pirate's child would feel.
GeoX
Little Hiawata fans
Message 17 -
2012-08-10 at 07:23:35
As I've often noted, it's true that, like various depictions of other "natives," generally "Indians" connotes more a fantasy archetype than any actual people; not that that isn't at least somewhat problematic in itself, but I don't imagine most of the people involved in the creation of these things thought of themselves as being racist. Still, intent only goes so far, and as far as mind-bogglingly offensive Disney material goes, "What Makes the Red Man Red?" is pretty much at the top of the list (though rivaled by "Happy-Hearted Roustabouts").
Matilda
Little Hiawata fans
Message 18 -
2012-08-11 at 00:40:36
Um, yes. I'm OK with "Peter Pan" the book, as a period piece reflecting the fantasy world of a British boy c. 1900. The Disney movie is another matter entirely. Gack.
By the way, and completely off-topic (but reminded by the sexism that also pervades the reprehensible "What Makes the Red Man Red" number), I highly recommend Jane Yolen's Nebula-winning novela "Lost Girls," which involves the unionization of the Wendys (Peter has kidnapped various girls seriatim to do the housework and play nanny for the boys), and is *very* funny.
And yes, Robb_K, that's just the way I felt on reading Rota's "Spanish Fort" ("The Sacred Necklace") story. He can draw Moorish Spain and Constantinople at the time of the Vikings convincingly, and he gives the Seminoles *totem poles*? Yeesh. Can't he even make a token effort at research?
By the way, and completely off-topic (but reminded by the sexism that also pervades the reprehensible "What Makes the Red Man Red" number), I highly recommend Jane Yolen's Nebula-winning novela "Lost Girls," which involves the unionization of the Wendys (Peter has kidnapped various girls seriatim to do the housework and play nanny for the boys), and is *very* funny.
And yes, Robb_K, that's just the way I felt on reading Rota's "Spanish Fort" ("The Sacred Necklace") story. He can draw Moorish Spain and Constantinople at the time of the Vikings convincingly, and he gives the Seminoles *totem poles*? Yeesh. Can't he even make a token effort at research?
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