tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post1797802373950488467..comments2024-02-10T18:19:36.406-08:00Comments on Newspaper Rock: Educating Gyasi Ross about PocahontasRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-41604456467177048472009-06-26T10:53:14.542-07:002009-06-26T10:53:14.542-07:00In regards to Disney's Pocahontas, The argume...In regards to Disney's Pocahontas, The argument could be made that the movie is a period piece. Meaning that the tribe depicted, which existed BEFORE McDonalds, U.S. Government issued cheese and peanut butter, MOST LIKELY had a different (thinner, more fit) physique than that of the typical Modern Native Tribesman/Tribeswoman. <br /><br />In Native Tribes (before Europeans), that lived on/off the land, obesity was a rare thing. When the western diet started to influence the life/body of those Tribes people they began to be affected almost immediately with issues, conditions, and diseases that did not exist in their culture. (Anecdotal inference comes from the words of the last Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii and her thoughts on how her nation had fallen. She mentions how her people did not used to be fat. She said that around 1900)<br /><br />So just on the ONE point of Disney's Pocahontas depicting Native people's stereotypical 'beauty' by showing them thin, lean, and fit may in fact be closer to how most Native people were during the period BEFORE the Europeans influence.<br /><br />There is nothing wrong with their image/depiction of Pocahontas. Now, their story of what Pocahontas, the woman, actually did and how the tribe she's from actually conducted themselves from a cultural point of view is a completely different issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-1807081550186452812009-06-23T16:18:23.303-07:002009-06-23T16:18:23.303-07:00I know Gasi from his days as a student in New York...I know Gasi from his days as a student in New York. He is a smart man with a sense of humor and honesty that often leaves parts of his self vulnerably exposed. In all honesty I chalk it up to youthful bravado, but then I have had conversations with him that allow me to draw this conclusion. <br /><br />Of course I see the sexism in his comments and I don’t agree with his opinion regarding Pocahontas (I was at the Central Park premiere and bitched through the whole thing, screaming “Lies, Lies, Lies!” much to my brother and sister’s embarrassment). Knowing a little of Gasi I suspect he is "keeping it real" by admitting his honest reaction to such portrayals of women by just being a guy and focusing more on the pride he and his feel just seeing other Natives being seen. I understand where he is coming from and know many, including myself who feels less privileged than most to claim it, who feel the same when seeing "skins" on screen or in the media being seen. It is in that moment of recognition that the pride being felt doesn't take into account the damage the portrayal and manipulation of what is seen or shown, all it does is grasped is the instant sense of "yes" those are my people.<br /><br />Having said this in his position, writing a column that reaches the masses of “Skins” is a powerful thing and can be a tool of change. The thing is his honesty, including him not understanding why there is an issue is his way of connecting. As a Native, admitting his need to keep it simple and openly questioning his own point of view, while defending if of course, is perhaps what is needed in order to start a conversation amongst all the people, regardless of education, financial or social status. I just hope that he grows to understand how the perpetuation of such images of women, Native or not, is a continuation of a stereotype that doesn’t honor the strength, diversity and value of real women. I also trust that given the chance and opportunity, including responses to what he writes, such as yours, will give him the opportunity to grow into that responsibility.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176109795167713603noreply@blogger.com