Princesses and Savages

The portrayals of Native Americans are not very common in Popular American Films. However when Native Americans are portrayed in movies or popular T.V. shows they are not represented fairly.  For example Women are represented as the princesses, or matriarchs.  Men are represented as savages, or as the wise elder men.  Two very well known examples that portray both of these stereotypes are Pocahontas and the different Native American characters represented on the popular movie Twilight.

Pocahontas represents the humble but feisty princess that of course every Native- American woman is like. Pocahontas is dressed in your “typical” Native American attire.  When she goes to England in the second movie she is seen as uncivilized and people look down on her as though she was not “good” enough.  

The two main characters in Twilight who portray Native Americans is Jacob black played by Taylor Lautner and Billy Black played by Gil Burmingham.  Jacob Black is your stereotypical Native American; he is portrayed as a savage, a teen who cannot control his anger and as a result he turns into a ware wolf.  He is Bella Swan’s second choice.  He is portrayed as the Sidekick when the vampires and the wolves team up but He is never seen as the Hero or as the main romantic interest of the movie.  On the other hand we have Billy Black.  He is the elderly man in the wheelchair who always has some wise advice to give.  He is seen mysterious and wise. 

These racial stereotypes being portrayed in the media just naturalize the notion that these stereotypes are real and accurate.  When society begins to believe these stereotypes we then begin to accept its normality and we don’t question it any further.

The Native-American population has decreased because of the Genocides that occurred years and years ago.  A lot of us do not know Native-Americans personally and we begin to learn about their culture, appearance, and about their stories through watching Television and films.  We think we know the truth but the real truth is we have just been learning what film and television producers want us to capture from their films and shows. We rely on the media to give us accurate information about certain groups but we just learn false information.  We have believed that these different characteristics are accurate and that they represent every Native American. 

Popeye the Racist

The advent of television and cinematography introduced new means of molding public opinion, consequently, the commodification of visual messages diffused narratives of what society is. In particular, these mediums visually convey dominant racial ideologies. In early American history, Native Americans were portrayed as primitive savages; as a result, these depictions validated white supremacy and manifest destiny. Eventually these depictions were further developed into what media has constructed as the “captivity narrative.” This narrative capitalizes on the fear that “savage Indians” will hold white women and children in captivity. For example, the episode Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh (1938) from the popular cartoon series Popeye the Sailor, illustrates the captivity narrative when the protagonist Olive Oyl is held captive by a tribe of Indians and Popeye comes to rescue. The antagonist, Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh, represents the stereotypical characterization of a Native American tribal chief wearing a headdress, leading a chant, and becoming violent when necessary. The captivity narrative in this episode justifies white supremacy and manifest destiny because it naturalizes the idea that Native Americans are not civilized or less than human. This idea justifies social and economical marginalization because the primitives are incapable of maintaining land and therefore must be displaced.

This episode starts off with Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh chanting that he seeks for a wife who will be there by his side. Meanwhile Popeye and Olive Oyl, crossing through the desert, find that their mule refuses to continue and lies down. Popeye, no longer on the mule, pulls on the reins; Olive Oyl tries to help by pulling on the tail of the mule. As a result the mule kicks her and sends her flying. Olive Oyl happens to land on a wooden chair next to Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh. Popeye notices Olive Oyl is missing and eventually finds her. Popeye insists Olive Oyl leaves with him but she refuses to leave after being showered with gifts. This leads to a duel between Popeye and Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh. With help Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh manages to lure Popeye into a large wooden steak. Popeye is bound to the burning wooden steak but avoids disaster when his can of spinach explodes. The spinach goes flying into Popeye’s mouth and he defeats the savage Indians.

Historically, Native Americans are portrayed as violent uncivilized people who capture white women and children. Their primary purpose is to be subservient to whites because they need to be civilized. In the case, Popeye walks off into the sunset after defeating Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh even when they try to burn him to the steak. The animators present images to the audience of what is the savages look like by exaggerating nose size, skin color, and eye shape. Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh is portrayed as a non-fluent English speaker who grunts all the time. In this case the savage has no articulate speech and his language is reduced to grunts. The grunts symbolize primitive culture and therefore the audience gets the impression that their culture is advanced. The belief that whites have superior cognitive abilities translates into other arenas of life. 

The savage depictions also imply that Native Americans are only useful when they serve white’s interests. In this episode, Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh showered Olive Oyl with gifts and thus, he reduced to serving and trying to persuade her to stay. However, in the end Popeye triumphs over all and wins over Olive Oyl. This depiction reinforces notions of white supremacy because the message is that Native American culture is primitive and in the end whites are superior.  

Stereotypes perpetuated by media reinforce racial ideologies and carry serious implications for minorities. These consequences can range from how one is treated to how policies are enforced. Although media representations carry the same racist messages, new media provides a forum for racial discourse. This new media is exposing the true sentiments that individuals suppress and this could mean a step towards having an honest conversation about race. 

links 

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/12/popeye-facts/

http://www.worstcartoonsever.com/2009/01/29/racist-popeye-i-yam-what-i-yam/

Savage vs. Wise Man

The movie I chose with a Native American character is Legends of the Fall. The reason I chose this one is because I feel that it portrays the stereotypes discussed in class. In this movie, Tristan Ludlow (played by Brad Pitt) is a conflicted character that goes through an emotional journey of sorts. The movie takes place during the early 20^th century; World War I, Prohibition, and the start of the Great Depression. Although the movie is centrally based on Brad Pitt’s love affair and conflicted character, it includes a Native American Family that is living with the Ludlow family. The Native American Family consists of One Stab (the Father), Pet (the Mother) and their daughter Isabel. The Native American Family are the servants to the Mr. Ludlow but he treats them as if they were part of his own family. Mr. Ludlow is often criticized by his visitors because he lets One Stab and his family dine at his table. During that time, people did not have a positive view of Native Americans. One Stab’s character falls into several stereotypes such as, savage and wise elder. The savage stereotype is clearly demonstrated throughout various scenes of the movies, often times it is when an outside visitor come to talk to Mr. Ludlow. He stands next to Mr. Ludlow ready to jump into action at the first sign of a threat. One Stab is also a sidekick to Mr. Ludlow, always encouraging standing by any decision he makes. Moreover, the story of Tristan and his family is narrated by One Stab, who outlives all of the characters in the movie.

            On the other hand, his daughter Isabel is scene throughout the movie as a young girl with a crush on Tristan, but her character soon develops into a strong a fertile squaw capable of speaking her own mind and making her own choices. She falls in love with Tristan and bears his children. Her character fits into the stereotype of a strong outspoken woman that falls in love with the White noble man. Much like the movie Pocahontas, she does what she wants and “follows her heart.”

            These stories resemble the historic representations seen throughout history, for example, One Stab can be seen as a savage and a wise elder. His character fulfills both rolls in the movie. Similarly, Isabel is the squaw of the movie a noble yet outspoken Native American woman. Moreover, Isabel’s character differs from historical representations of Native Americans because she is neither a princess of matriarch. Her father is the head of the family and she pretty much listens to everything he says. She acts and speaks like an educated White woman of her time. Although the way she dresses is closer to the traditional Native American dresswear.

            The representation of Native Americans in the film justify social marginalization by making the Native American family seem like they are included in society but are not exactly equal. Mr. Ludlow treats them as family but still makes them work by cooking, cleaning, taking care of his land, and having them sleep in an isolated shack outside of the main house. In a sense they are portrayed as separate but equal. With this notion in place, it makes is okay for them to be marginalized within society.

The Portrayal of Native Americans in Twilight

The protagonist of the movie Twilight, Bella Swan recently moves to Forks, Washington with her dad where she befriends Jacob Black and Edward Cullen who she soon discovers they both hold secrets. Since Jacob is a werewolf and Edward is a vampire they do not see eye-to-eye especially since their ancestors were at war with each other and they are fighting for the attention of Bella. She is torn between the two because she is close with them and doesn’t want to lose either. Jacob’s character has Native American ancestry and he is part of the Quileute tribe. At the beginning he has long dark hair, dark colored skin, and medium built but later in the second movie he gains more muscle, cuts his hair, and gets a tattoo.

Throughout the movie Jacob and his wolf pack were usually shirtless since they destroy their clothes after they transform and thus only wear shorts. Jacob’s father Billy could be seen as the wise man who tells stories at the bonfire and persuades Jacob to tell Bella to break up with Edward seeing that as being the best solution for their unconventional relationship. The films portray the Native Americans as being savages because of their behavior. They do not have good manners, they eat plenty of food, and they turn into wolves when they get angry. They are also accustomed to being outdoors and are constantly playfully arguing which can lead to real fighting within one another. The leader of the pack, Sam, could not control his anger and accidentally transformed into a wolf and in the process scarred his fiancé's face. Although Jacob loves Bella and wants to be with her and does everything in his power to keep her safe, she chooses to be with Edward instead. Therefore even if he tried to be her warrior, he was never able to win her over and lost his battle. Sam imprinted on Emily and she now has taken on the role of a squaw who cares for the members of the wolf pack. The members do not choose to be a part of the tribe but it happens to them regardless of what they want. Imprinting is also something that happens to them. Jacob imprints on Bella’s daughter and by doing so he becomes her protector.

This representation of Native Americans in this movie is very stereotypical of what you’d expect to see Indians as. They are seen as fighters who are going to defend their territory and during their pastime they sit around telling stories of their ancestors. These representations marginalize Native Americans because they don’t give them much importance. In general the vampires are who are in charge while the wolf pack can be seen as a sidekick especially when they need to fight the rest of the vampires. They are not a big part of the movie and are contacted when they need assistance. They are seen as a group of people who are secluded from others outside of their tribe. Unlike the Cullens who are wealthy, the Native Americans do not have as much money. There are few older characters while the rest are adolescents who are suppose to obey their elders. This film uses the stereotypes of Native Americans to their advantage and uses them as a storyline instead of trying to disprove them. It’s very rare to see a certain race not be portrayed accurately in the media. If they do not stop portraying them the same way the cycle will not end. Twilight is not the only movie that shows Native Americans in this manner and most likely will not be the last.  

Validating "Savages"

The TV show "The Red Road" is about a police officer named Harold Jensen, that "partners up" with a dangerous member of theNative American Lenape tribe who is an ex-con that just got released from jail, Philip Kopus, who blackmails and helps Harold with the cover up of an accident. The accident was caused by Harold's Schizophrenic wife, Jean, in where she did a hit-and-run injuring a young Lenape boy during one of her delusions caused by her illness. I put "partners up" in quotations because they are not actually partners because Kopus is blackmailing the officer into "looking the other way" when he request it or else he would reveal what really happened. Furthermore, the officer has two daughters, the eldest, Rachel is dating a Lenape boy, Junior, who later in the show we find out he is related to the ex-con, Philip Kopus. Rachel parents do not want Rachel dating the Lenape boy because in their minds all the Lenape Indians are "killers." Rachel's mother, Jean, had a twin brother, who at the age of eight, was drowned by culpability of a Lenape boy. As the show progress, Philip, was the boy, at that time, whom killed Jean's brother and was sent to juvenile detention.

The show opens with some Lenape Indians performing their dances while tourists watch during an event called Powwow. During the performance the Lenape Indians were dressed as how society has come to associate every Native American Indian: wearing a headband with feathers, wearing little clothing and also have their faces painted. Excluding the powwow, during the show the Lenape Indians wear casual clothing and are up to date with modern technology.

In the show we can see the clashing between the two communities, the Native American Lenape tribe and the white community of Walpole, New Jersey. Throughout the show we could see the stereotypes and injustices towards the Native Americans. First with the opening of the show, then the mistreatment and dismissal of the Walpole police department. The savage stereotype of the Native American is prevalent in this show with mostly all the Lenape males. These historical representations of Native Americans in the show justify the economic and social marginalization of Native Americans. The show presents how bad Native Americans are treated, but it validates it through the representation of the savage Native American. The show represent the Lenape Indians as drug addicts that are always up to no good and causing chaos to the neighboring white community. 

It disturbs me that the show is about a "good" cop that makes a "bad" choice in order to protect his family, making him corrupt, yet the Lenape Indians are the savages who kill innocents. This show represents Native Americans as savages while the white community justify their "bad" actions as protection.

Saved by the Flying White Boy

“There was Tiger Lily tied up in the back, Smee rowing and Captain Hook searching the land, determined to find Pan’s hideout”. In this classic 1953 movie, the menacing Captain Hook is on the hunt to find Peter Pan and uses the Indian Princess Tiger Lily as bait. She is the slender, tanned skinned beauty with black braids, a blue headband with an eagle feather, and the traditional native dress. She epitomizes the classic Native American woman. And from the early years of my childhood, I would refer to Tiger Lily as what a Native American is. This unique princess conforms heavily to the typical stereotypes of Native women.

“Help!”. This is the only word that she says in the entire movie, yet this one word tells me all I need to know about Tiger Lily. The very essence of Tiger Lily is captured within this one word. This word was spoken in reaction to being drowned by Hook at Skull Rock. And as we all remember, of course Peter Pan comes to the rescue to save the helpless princess. This early cartoon movie highly correlates to the ol’ Western movies in which the cowboy saves the Native American girl and becomes the hero. Similarly, Peter Pan is highly praised in this rescue of Tiger Lily, so much so that the Native Chief renames Pan the “Flying Eagle” and places on him a large head-piece of white feathers. This reinforces that Native American women are delicate creatures in need of rescue by the white man. Not only does this single word give way to stereotypes of Native American women, but also Tiger Lily’s actions showcase the “attitude” expected of them.

There is the famous quote that says, “Actions speak louder than words”. In the scene after her rescue, Tiger Lily’s actions bolster the idea that Native American women are flirtatious and infatuated with the white man. Tiger Lily initiates the tribal dancing in which she dances in front of Peter in a G rated (yet obvious) seductive manner. She comes closer to tease Peter Pan and then proceeds to kiss him. This unwarranted action depicts the affection of the Indian princess and the white man. This representation of Tiger Lily works to justify the marginalization of Native Americans.

The marginalization of Native Americans is reflected in the rescue of Tiger Lily. In this scene, the white man becomes the warrior and becomes the only one who can stop atrocities from happening. This rescue displays the idea that the Natives are at the power and at the mercy of the white man. This perpetuates the belief that the white man provides, and that Natives are to be dependent on them. Thus this normalizes the reality that massive amounts of Native Americans are in poverty on their reservations. This reliance on the white man reflects the relationship that Natives have now with the U.S. government. According to Forbes magazine, “Reservations contain valuable natural resources worth nearly $1.5 trillion, but the vast majority of these resources remain undeveloped because the federal government gets in the way”. As long as tribes are denied the right to control their own resources, they will remain locked in poverty and dependence.

“There was Tiger Lily, tied up in the back…”. Native American women are still to this day tied up by the many stereotypes. They are restrained and limited. However, I know these beautiful women Native women are working to cut the ropes of these misconceptions that bind them!