The story of Pocahontas according to Disney studios “A Restless for adventure, Indian princess Pocahontas stumbles upon English settlers who've landed in the home of her tribe. She soon becomes entranced by handsome Captain John Smith, who's also smitten by Pocahontas' beauty and gentle spirit. However, when Governor Ratcliffe's greedy followers believe the Native Americans have hidden the gold they're searching for and demand its return, tension builds between the two groups. It's up to Pocahontas to discover her true destiny and restore peace among her people. “[1]
In the movie gives the idea of the good/bad Indian. It also puts the idea of Native Americans as “savages”. Additionally, the happy and joyful ending of the film twist the history of killings and oppression of Native Americans.At certain points, the movie makes Native Americans and English settlers equal offenders when in reality the aggressors were the English colonists.Pocahontas image highlights American standards of beauty so all should look like her if they don't a hard diet waits for them. But probably the most offensive thing about this movie was the song “Savages”. The lyric portrays Native Americans as unpredictable individuals who are governed by their emotions and uncontrollable desires. Also, some terms in the lyrics intentionally insult Native Americans for their lack of acknowledgment of the Christian God. Tries to give the idea that Native Americans are not civilized, not normal, and uneducated people. Also implies that all who are like you deserves trust but who are different from you should be rejected. Such phrase appears to support the segregation's. The fact that the “Indians” in the movie sing the song that is offensive to them sounds a bit ironic. To make matters worse, the “savages” also refer to the English settlers with offensive words like demon and paleface as if to make such less aggressive towards both parties. Walt Disney Studios is one of the biggest and powerful film companies in the world. Their biggest targeted watchers are our children. Sadly most of their animations are full of stereotypes, mostly about gender and race. And we have been letting our kids watch these movies since 1930s. Today I want to talk about one of their movies, named Pocahontas.
Video with the Lyrics of "Savages"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2av9SQsMIi8
"Savages" Lyrics
-Part 1-
Ratcliffe: What can you expect. From filthy little heathens?. Here's what you get when races are diverse (That's right). Their skin's a hellish red. They're only good when dead. They're vermin, as I said. And worse.
English Settlers: They're savages! Savages!
Ratcliffe: Barely even human.
English Settlers: Savages! Savages!
Ratcliffe: Drive them from our shore! They're not like you and me. Which means they must be evil. We must sound the drums of war!
Ratcliffe & English Settlers: They're savages! Savages! Dirty redskin devils! Now we sound the drums of war!
Powhatan: This is what we feared. The paleface is a demon. The only thing they feel at all is greed.
Kekata: Beneath that milky hide. There's emptiness inside.
Native American: I wonder if they even bleed.
Native Americans: They're savages! Savages! Barely even human. Savages! Savages!
Powhatan: Killers at the core.
Kekata:They're different from us. Which means they can't be trusted.
Powhatan: We must sound the drums of war.
Native Americans: They're savages! Savages! First we deal with this one. Then we sound the drums of war.
English Settlers: Savages! Savages!
Ben: Let's go kill a few, men!
Native Americans: Savages! Savages!
Ratcliffe: Now it's up to you, men!
All: Savages! Savages!Barely even human!Now we sound the drums of war!
Part 2-
Pocahontas: Is there nothing I can do? Will this really be the end? Is it only death that waits. Just around the riverbend?
Ratcliffe: This will be the day ...(Let's go men!)
Powhatan:This will be the morning ... (Bring out the prisoner).
English Settlers and Native Americans: We will see them dying in the dust. Pocahontas: I don't know what I can do. Still, I know I've got to try.
English Settlers: Now we make 'em pay.
Pocahontas: Eagle, help my feet to fly.
Native Americans: Now without a warning...
Pocahontas: Mountain, help my heart be great.
English Settlers and Native Americans: Now we leave 'em blood and bone and rust.
Pocahontas: Spirits of the earth and sky ...
English Settlers and Native Americans: It's them or us.
Pocahontas: Please don't let it be to late...
English Settlers and Native Americans: They're just a bunch of filthy, stinking. English Settlers: Savages!
Native Americans: Savages! English SettlersDemons!
Ratcliffe: Kill them!
Native Americans: Savages!
English Settlers: Savages!
Ratcliffe+English Settlers: What are we waiting for?
All: Destroy their evil race. Until there's not a trace left.
Pocahontas: How loud are the drums of war.
English Settlers and Native Americans: We will sound the drums of war (Savages! Savages!). Now, we sound the drums of war(Savages! Savages!)
Ratcliffe: Now we see what comes Of trying to be chums.
Native Americans: Now we sound the drums ... of ... war!
English Settlers: Of course it means the drums ... of ... war!
Pocahontas: Is the death of all I love. Carried in the drumming of war?
[1] http://disney.go.com/disneyinsider/history/movies/pocahontas