Pocahontas

I have no recollection of watching Pocahontas as a child, but I do remember singing the song "Colors of the Wind."  So, maybe I did watch it?  Regardless, I'm excited to watch it today, while live blogging, of course!

Even in the very beginning scene of Pocahontas, it's very clear who the dreamy male character is that Pocahontas is going to fall in love with.  John Smith seems like the stereotypical "Prince Charming"-type character, especially in comparison with his fellow crew mates.  He has the suave, flowy blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and perfect muscular build while the other English males are mostly unattractive.

Wait...John Smith is from London - um, where's his accent?  How come none of the other crew mates have accents?  It's interesting then that the Chief and Elder in Pocahontas's village have a slight accent.  Is this because they are seen as "more foreign" than John and his men?

It's very ironic how Governor Ratcliffe specifically states how freedom, prosperity, and the adventure of their lives awaits them in the New World, considering how European settlers in America were known for stripping the Native Americans of their land and freedoms.  Pocahontas seeks adventure, not quick to choose the steady path and marry the serious man who would provide her with the safest life.  Instead, she falls in love with the white settler, whose expedition is the cause of her newfound danger.

Again Disney mentions how Pocahontas has the spirit of the mother, which is similar to that of the wind, but the mother is not currently present in her life.  It is implied that she passed away and that Pocahontas does remember her because she says that she misses her, but how come Disney never chooses to depict a strong, close mother-daughter relationship?  Instead the parental bond is shared between the daughter and the father.

Wow – what we have read in various articles about the villains depicting transgender individuals is clearly seen in this film.  Governor Ratcliffe has stereotypical feminine qualities: the purple eyelids, colorful attire, large jewels - and how could we not notice the pigtails with red bows.  Also, I've noticed that every Disney villain (at least in the movies we've watched so far) has an awful, annoying animal sidekick.

For a charming guy, John Smith makes racist and derogatory comments.  He says that his men will "use this land properly" and tells Pocahontas that she thinks that her houses are fine because she doesn't know any better.  To make it even better, he says "we can teach you, we can improve the lives of savages all over the world."  John’s remarks are a reflection of ignorance and the idea that white people are civilized, and individuals with different cultures are considered to be lesser people.  However, Pocahontas put him in his place with the song “Colors of the Wind” (my favorite song and lyrics shown below) :

“You think the only people who are people

Are the people who look and think like you

But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger

You'll learn things you never knew; you never knew”

Good for you Pocahontas! I love how she stands up for herself and her people.  She doesn't hesitate to tell John he's wrong.  And to top it all off, she doesn't even kiss him when she has the chance to.  Unlike most of the other Disney princesses who automatically fall head-over-heels in love with a man, Pocahontas has more respectable characteristics.  Although she does foolishly go off into the woods to meet John multiple times, she doesn’t let her love for him completely blind her actions.  Honestly, I was even surprised at the end of the movie when she decided to stay in her village with her family instead of leaving with her true love (the complete opposite of Ariel)