[HPforGrownups] Off-Topic, but you asked, was: Peter (& Disney)

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 4749

Denise Rogers wrote:

> Amanda, Could you elaborate on the "changing history?"  We do own Pocahontas, and I knew there was something not quite right about it...

Okay. Sit down. Caveat--this is off the tops of my and my husband's heads; there's probably more.

Pocohontas was about 12. John Smith was in his 40s. They had no romantic relationship. He was captured and was to be executed, his head was on the block and they were going to club him, and she interceded. Our accounts of this are all from John Smith's interpretation of events. I'm not even sure how well he spoke the language. There's varying interpretations. I've read theories that her tribe wanted an "in" with the white men, and used a formula ritual which he did not understand. This would have the whole "saving his life" thing being staged, and he was never in any danger (although, since he didn't know the ritual, he thought he was). There's similar rituals in other tribes--such "rebirths," where death is certain but avoided, make the "victim" a member of the tribe. Voila! We got us a white man. Or maybe she was just a spoiled 12-year-old whose doting dad gave in when she didn't want the cool-looking guy's head caved in. She didn't prevent a war or anything. She just really liked
white man stuff, and chose to live their way. She married John Rolf, who was a planter, and went to England with him, and (I believe) died there. John Smith was a career soldier.

Also, I find the scenery really distracting. The coastal zones of Virginia don't have great huge cliffs and waterfalls like that. I really expected more realism in the setting, from the usually detail-obsessed Disney people. And, off the subject, I thought it really stupid of them to show her picking up a bear cub, since that's a major league dumb thing to do and kids who have seen this, know nothing, and get taken to Yellowstone might get into some trouble.

It also does the genuine culture and beliefs of the Indians, which were myriad and rich, no compliment to make them into New Age Circle-of-Lifers. The whole thing was just an exercise in preaching and political correctness. Which I don't like, but don't generally rail about, unless you totally misrepresent history to be preachy and politically correct. Like there's not perfectly good, accurate examples of tolerance and acceptance.

> I noticed the CR version kept more to the tone of the true book,

Am I mistaken? I thought Peter Pan was originally written as a play.

> Someone mentioned back on Yahoo how they mutilated Mulan (And I still wish someone would post an URL, or something about that true story!).

All I know about this is she supposedly spent ten years in the army, and she was taking the place of her brother. I think. Have you searched on Mu Lan? There's at least one kid's book out that I've seen.

> Pocahontas is the acceptance of people, savages, despite their race.

Nope, Pocohontas is showing how the Native Americans were morally superior to the empire-building, crude, insensitive, greedy, destructive, amoral white men. I find the contrast stark, when you look at something like the Johnny Appleseed segment of (oh, what's the title? I think it's Melody Time), where the settlers were portrayed as brave venturers into an unknown land full of danger. Civilizing the wilderness was a good thing, even as recently as what, forty years ago? You don't realize it until you're watching it and think, wow, they don't say that anymore. We apologize for existing, these days.

> Even Little Mermaid is more darker than the Disney version,

To put it mildly. The message of the original was to be content with your lot and station. She pays the ultimate price--she dies.

> and I know the evil queen in Snow White didn't just fade away, she wore heated irons, and was forced to dance at SW's wedding.

And what they did to Cinderella's stepmom and stepsisters! Ow.

> I never knew the storyline for Hunchback.  I know it's sugar coated, but at least I have something to go on.

Everyone died. Esmeralda died. Quasimodo died. I think whatshisname, her love interest, died. Shakespearean in the die-offs. The original is a commentary on social injustice, and the deaths underscore the theme.

--Amanda