As a child in the 60s, I was obsessed with Native Americans and read everything I could get my hands on. I still have a set of colorful books for children that describe the environments in which each tribe live(d), their food, costumes, etc. On a trip to the Wisconsin Dells, I asked the tribe there if I could live with them instead (they…
As a child in the 60s, I was obsessed with Native Americans and read everything I could get my hands on. I still have a set of colorful books for children that describe the environments in which each tribe live(d), their food, costumes, etc. On a trip to the Wisconsin Dells, I asked the tribe there if I could live with them instead (they said to ask my parents who said no, of course). From my perspective, I do not recall Native Americans being shown in a 'cartoonish' way in films except in cases where they play villains, but that's how American films frequently portray villains. (French films seem to get at the complexity of the dark side of human nature much better than American films.)
If I remember correctly, this Native American actor from "Cuckoo's Nest" was also in "Harry and Tonto." The role he plays is vital to the story ("Harry and Tonto" is a masterpiece, btw.)
One thing that gets me about this narrative -- that Americans or Westerners in general see "others" in cartoonish ways -- is that it actually goes both ways. Even when immersed in another culture, one cannot fully inhabit it. And the conflicts 'they' experience -- even if not exactly the same -- can be understood and analogized -- what "white" person has never felt alienated in their own culture? I think that's why I was so fascinated by other cultures as a child. I didn't particularly like the one I was in, and yet must field constant presumptions as to the way I view these other cultures, or the ways in which they are "portrayed" as if the audience weren't savvy enough to realize that there's a lot more to it than a 90-minute film could capture.
My last point is that I don't quite understand this essay -- it reads like a summary without analysis.
“...this narrative -- that Americans or Westerners in general see "others" in cartoonish ways ... actually goes both ways”
You are a man out of your own time, DogL! Indeed, it DOES go both ways, but in the de rigueur Identitarian ideology of our times, only Westerners are judged to be “bad” for such views; others are lauded for their beliefs that their culture is important or even “superior”.
I’m not sure why the writer has, as an underlying assumption, the idea that Hollywood (essentially a collection of corporations in the business of making money) is responsible for being “inclusive” of any type of group, culture, race, etc. Does the plethora of mafia movies mean that Hollywood is racist against Italians? After all, they have historically been presented as criminals, murderers, etc. rather than as full-spectrum individuals. She also seems unaware of films like Sherman Alexie’s “Smoke Signals” (1998) which was moderately successful (especially for a small budget film), “Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee”, and “Hostiles”, among others.
Thank you for this very clearly written post. I share your point of view about the awkwardness of being in 'one's culture' and/while be interested in others of (the outsider looking in). Your articulated that very well, so thanks. Not an easy concept to capture.
I kept waiting to hear something about the movie … I guess she likes it because it’s authentic ? I’ll check it out anyway but I agree that all cultures are complex and misunderstood in different ways and that’s okay to keep trying to understand each other.
As a child in the 60s, I was obsessed with Native Americans and read everything I could get my hands on. I still have a set of colorful books for children that describe the environments in which each tribe live(d), their food, costumes, etc. On a trip to the Wisconsin Dells, I asked the tribe there if I could live with them instead (they said to ask my parents who said no, of course). From my perspective, I do not recall Native Americans being shown in a 'cartoonish' way in films except in cases where they play villains, but that's how American films frequently portray villains. (French films seem to get at the complexity of the dark side of human nature much better than American films.)
If I remember correctly, this Native American actor from "Cuckoo's Nest" was also in "Harry and Tonto." The role he plays is vital to the story ("Harry and Tonto" is a masterpiece, btw.)
One thing that gets me about this narrative -- that Americans or Westerners in general see "others" in cartoonish ways -- is that it actually goes both ways. Even when immersed in another culture, one cannot fully inhabit it. And the conflicts 'they' experience -- even if not exactly the same -- can be understood and analogized -- what "white" person has never felt alienated in their own culture? I think that's why I was so fascinated by other cultures as a child. I didn't particularly like the one I was in, and yet must field constant presumptions as to the way I view these other cultures, or the ways in which they are "portrayed" as if the audience weren't savvy enough to realize that there's a lot more to it than a 90-minute film could capture.
My last point is that I don't quite understand this essay -- it reads like a summary without analysis.
“...this narrative -- that Americans or Westerners in general see "others" in cartoonish ways ... actually goes both ways”
You are a man out of your own time, DogL! Indeed, it DOES go both ways, but in the de rigueur Identitarian ideology of our times, only Westerners are judged to be “bad” for such views; others are lauded for their beliefs that their culture is important or even “superior”.
I’m not sure why the writer has, as an underlying assumption, the idea that Hollywood (essentially a collection of corporations in the business of making money) is responsible for being “inclusive” of any type of group, culture, race, etc. Does the plethora of mafia movies mean that Hollywood is racist against Italians? After all, they have historically been presented as criminals, murderers, etc. rather than as full-spectrum individuals. She also seems unaware of films like Sherman Alexie’s “Smoke Signals” (1998) which was moderately successful (especially for a small budget film), “Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee”, and “Hostiles”, among others.
DogL,
Thank you for this very clearly written post. I share your point of view about the awkwardness of being in 'one's culture' and/while be interested in others of (the outsider looking in). Your articulated that very well, so thanks. Not an easy concept to capture.
Couldn't agree more with your last sentence.
I kept waiting to hear something about the movie … I guess she likes it because it’s authentic ? I’ll check it out anyway but I agree that all cultures are complex and misunderstood in different ways and that’s okay to keep trying to understand each other.