I'm Polynesian (Native Hawaiian to be exact.) I wasn't born there, but I have visited and I grew up with the culture. Personally, I took no issue with how the Polynesian culture was treated in Moana. In fact, compared to the disney movies of old, I thought the creators handled it very well. In movies like Pocahontas or Aladdin, the culture is used as a backdrop but not really explored. It is explored in Moana though, and I liked that about the movie. (Though it's honestly not my favorite. I'm too attached to the disney renaissance period.) In regards to your last question though, to me it didn't matter that the animators didn't really explore the issues that Polynesians are facing today. It's a disney princess movie, and if they changed to plot to Moana holding her own and trying to preserve her culture when her lands are being colonized, there would have most likely been a myriad of problematic statements that could have been potentially made. Disney did right to stick with their tried and true formula.This time however, they did so while using the culture in a meaningful, and respectful way. At the end of the day, to me, it was enough that Disney took the Polynesian culture and did so with respect, because it may lead to those who are interested to go and do more research themselves.
+La Boheme Soleil Cool I'm glad you enjoyed it. I can't speak to how it handled representation in Moana, but I think that it is good to hear from Polynesians about it from both sides.
Pocahontas was an incorrect movie. The girl was in her early teens, kidnapped force to marry, taken to England, died on a boat coming back to Americas.
"Do you care more about Polynesian people than you did before?" Actually, I will guarentee you there were people in my community who didn't know what the word Polynesian meant before this movie. They wouldn't know that people lived on islands other than Hawaii. After Moana I looked up how ancient navigation and stuff from the movie worked. I think education like that can work as someone's "foot in the door" to care about issues that Polynesian people face today. Disney telling a story about a different culture can help normalize... telling diverse stories, if nothing else.
Coco actually had a lot of Spanish speakers part of the creation of it, so I don't think it will suffer the same cultural appropriation. I definitely agree though, a video on it would be great. Maybe seeing how Coco does culture right, vs the Disney method.
@@healgoth Great video suggestion. It seems like focusing on the individual triumph while only using the the systemic problems as a background is probably so commonplace I've never even thought about it.
What you said about the "praise Allah!" in Aladdin is so interesting and funny at the same time because I'm French, and in the French version there is so no reference to Allah
I know old video and probably won't see this comment. I totally agree with all the points, especially about how the goal is not for representation but for profit, but do want to share the impact Moana has had on my community here in Aotearoa, particularly since it was one of the first major films ever to be released in te reo Māori (and a range of other Poly languages! I feel like this has often been left out of the discussion how some languages are having the first ever major film released in Moana!). We have films that centre Māori, but they tend to be independent, essentially smaller-time Aotearoa-only productions like Boy, The Whale Rider, Once Were Warriors, etc., where having a major worldwide release of a film that centres Polynesians & Polynesian culture is so unheard of- and when we have been, it's been primarily about Hawai'i specifically and generally from an American perspective. Even with that Māori still get more than Pasifika, who I can't even think of anything smalltime that portrays Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Tonga, Rapa Nui (for anything other than racist conspiracy theories), Niue, etc. Even then most/virtually all films that do are post-colonisation and early colonisation/pre-colonisation history is erased. I can see a thousand films about King Arthur, Hercules, or Caesar, but nothing on Hongi Hika (seriously how has he not had a film), Hinemoa and Tutanekai, or Kupe, or other Poly figures like Nafanua. At Ihumātao, we had screenings of Moana in te reo Māori and for kids to see themselves *and their own cultural language* shown on screen was unbelievably powerful. Virtually every little Māori girl I know has her posters and dolls and outfits. I really hate that this kind of representation is so rare and when occurs tends to be much less ideal than Moana (which to be honest, other than the laziness of her name being a "twist" to anyone who doesn't speak a Poly language, Maui being more of a grump than a direct trickster, and the body types portrayed, I didn't have much of a problem with. On the back-end side, the first screenplay was written by Taika Waititi and he had to pull out for other projects and as far as I could tell, Poly people were involved and influential throughout), but I think it needs to be a wider thing than *just* a Disney problem, more that Disney has the only major film releases that has shown us basically at all. With the exception of really harmful representation like I'd argue Once Were Warriors is, it feels like I really want just *literally anything* and Moana fulfils that and didn't do too bad a job of it. Disney's an imperial international corporation and their "art" is always going to be distorted by the profit motive, but so far they're the only ones to even put us on screen. I'd argue that not showing us at all like other major studios says a lot more than a suboptimal representation
I don't know if it's because I'm white and I don't have a negative experience of my culture being appropriated but cultural appropriation makes most sense to me in economic terms. I loved Moana too and it did make me more aware of Polynesian history and culture (at least their representation of it, not sure how accurate) but when I see the Disney Moana resort on Hawai'i....girl. Who is beneficial financially from this? Disney CEOs and big bucks shareholders. I guess the Polynesian people who gave their input behind the scenes got paid for their work but "The Brand" of Moana, the merch, the resort as well as all the money made from the movie itself, it overwhelmingly benefits the (mostly white) Disney company more than any Polynesian perosn and after using their culture to tell a story, it's incredibly unfair.
To be completely fair, disney has a tendency to screw over every group they depict. Chinese, Japanese, Gay, Black, Hawaiian, Russian... Basically anyone who isn't a white-stereotypical-god-fearing-straight-american has been treated like shit. it's just that with poc and gay culture they REAAAAAALLLLY want these people to spend their money on disney products, even if they aren't willing to put in any effort to do justice to these groups.
Just a reminder, you mentioned Tiana was the only princess who did not get to be wit a man of her same race, but Pochahantas wasn't either. And, I would just like to throw out there, too, none of the Caucasian princess movies address any cultural issues, either. In fact, with the exceptions of Belle and Merida, we don't really know where any of the Caucasian princesses are from. There is lots of speculation where they are from, but it's all speculation. Most of the Caucasian princess are just understood to be from "some magical kingdom somewhere". So, really, where any of the princesses are from is pretty much just a backdrop to the story, and exploration of culture, if any, is just used to serve the main story line across the board. I agree, Disney is out to make money. But I think they do a pretty decent job over all of promoting inclusion. They are on the forefront of the movement. I see ot as kind of their job to ease people into opening up their minds just a little at a time. In other words, baby steps. Baaaaaby steps. Lol! I love your blogs and reviews! Especially the Gilmore Girls one. So good! Keep it up!
Anne Harvey You are totally right! I can't believe I forgot about that. It's probably because she does end up with him at the end officially. But she does end up with basic as hell John Rolfe!
I love how you geek out over the soundtrack at the end....my favourite part is the reprise of "How Far I'll Go"...when she's on the boat and the lights go out and then.........
Quite informative and thought-provoking discussion here. It hit some really strong topics head on and gave a lot of great understanding and perspective towards racial appropriation, and that was quite refreshing to hear about not just in a passing comment or a single sentence when talking about Disney as a whole.
Can't say Moana had any influence on me, but I did care more about Polynesian people than before after Lilo & Stitch, and I'm not even sure they were named as such in that movie. Nation by left more of an impact though. Aladdin is kinda the original globe trotter though, A Persian story originally taking place in China changed to now take place in Arabia.
Well put! This is why I won't watch Moana or Coco etc. It's ironic to me because watching these movies supports the very dominant culture that's oppressing indigenous cultures. And many indigenous people support Disney movie/ Disney land etc. Instead of Native American... First Nations or indigenous/native or by their tribal name.
7:36 Noooooooo, Melina, honey, you really didn't do your reasearch, have you? One Thousand and One Nights was compiled during the Islamic Golden Age, BUT the time frame of the main story is during the Sasanian Empire, from 224 to 651 AD. BEFORE Islam was created. So if the main time frame is from 224 to 651 AD, Scheherazade's stories would have taken place BEFORE the main story. So ALL the characters in One Thousand and One Nights AREN'T muslims because Islam wasn't even a thing in that time period. The characters lived in a Pre-Islamic time period. Also, if you want to get really authentic with the story of Aladdin, it says he lived in "one of the cities of China", probably one with strong Arabic influence like Xinjiang, the most Western region of China. And your concern is about the muslims who weren't even a thing in that time period? How about having a little concern for the Chinese in Xinjiang?
HotaruKara hi, I wasn't referring to the characters in the One Thousand and One Nights, I was referring to them as they are in the Aladdin film which the Sultan does say Praise Allah. But thanks for that information is informative to have
HotaruKara also if answer your other comment which I can't find. Of course other groups culturally appropriate it was one example of a popular type not an indicator that just white do it
It wasn't a real question, it was a rhetoric one. By "retconned" you mean they were falsely changed into muslims by Muhammad. Since the old testament peole regarded themselves as Jews. You mean "the characters in Arabian Nights are FALSELY RETCONNED as muslims". Since by REAL historical standards they weren't.
HotaruKara@ "Since the old testament peole regarded themselves as Jews." - The word "Jew" is never used until quite late into the old testament. Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jacob etc are never referred to as Jews. Jacob's descendants are called Hebrews or Israelites. Judah is only one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
I feel like coco wouldve been a better example with disney trying to copyright dia de los muertos but where moana does connect to culture appropriation is the disney parks in hawaii and the maui suits disney is profiting off of polynesian culture and its not cool next thing you know maui will be copyrighted even though the demi god has been around for years
Off topic, but what are your thoughts on the new Death Note trailer? Do you think it's white washing and has questionable implications? Or something else? Also, what do you think about the series Legend Quest on Netflixs? Since it's kinda like Gravity Falls meets an adventure series with Aztec lore made by a Mexican studio and writers.
Also off topic have you heard of Andi Mack? I would like to know your thoughts. The main characters are poc and rumor has it there's will be a gay character
10:01 How can you say that "there is very little going on that has to do with Chinese culture"? The movie is all about Chinese tradition and history. The setting itself is during a Mongol invasion, you know, the Mongols? China's neighbors which China had to battle many times in real history. Most of the movie is the preparation and the actual battle against the Mongols. Also, the movie had aspects of Confucian philosophy, Chinese tradition is imbuded with Confucian philosophy. One of the principals of Confucianism is to listen to and obey your elders and parents and another is to take care of your parents. Those two principals collided in Mulan's mind, and she chose to take care of her parent over obeying her parent. That's the reason why she took her father's place and enrolled in the army. Another reason has to do with going against the grain and keeping your individuality that Disney likes so much. The song at the beginning of the movie with the aunties that pressure Mulan to dress more feminine and find a husband represent another Confucian aspect: community. In Chinese and Confucian tradition there is much more emphasis being put on the cohesiveness of the community, than the wants and wishes of the individual. Whitening the face is part of the Chinese culture, as well as Asian culture in general (like geishas in Japan) 10:27 You know context matters, right? What was the context of the movie? It was the end of the 90's when gender was discussed much more openly than even a few years previously or more, decades. So of course they took that opportunity and chose a movie about an mythical Chinese female warrior, Hua Mulan. Her hiding her gender in order to battle, the original story is all about gender, you know? Also, China was just as sexist as all other early medieval countries (the Hua Mulan story is put between 420-589 AD). The reason why gender wasn't discussed is easy: what, it was possible to discuss it in the 30's, 50's, 60's? It's Disney after all, in that time period it would have been viewed as too risqué. It has nothing to do with it being Chinese and not European and making China look so bad and sexist and Europe perfect. It was just that Walt Disney wanted to adapt European folk tales and wasn't that interested or didn't even know about other cultures except Western ones enough to make a movie about it. And it just so happened that those movies that were made during the 30's-60's while Walt Disney was alive, coincided with a time period in which gender wasn't openly discussed. It wasn't a big anti-Chinese conspiracy from Disney. The original Chinese story itself makes gender the most important aspect. Enough with the facile, learned by heart identity politics. You're smarter than that, I'm disappointed. The world is more complex than that, you know?
Yeah nah people from China didn’t even like Mulan (cartoon) because it didn’t depict Chinese culture accurately. And many Chinese people thought that Mulan was too assertive, something you wouldn’t see in women in Confucius culture
I would suggest looking up the Sami people and their relation to the "frozen" movies, it's easy to forget the indigenous people of scandinavia as (sadly) a lot of erasure has been going on over the years, but it doesn't mean that they don't exist.
Cultural appropriation is not a thing. There is something as a racist or stereotypical depiction of people, like black men in 90s series, who are just weirdly attacking people for no reason, or "black transformers", or gypsy witch portrays of Roma people, etc. But that is not cultural appropriation, it is not a thing. Everytime i see Japanese animators include weird and mostly incorrect christian imagery into their films or include a botched, embarrassing German language line, i don't get offended, i am kind of proud, that they include it. The only issue is, if the depictions are fair or if they are cliche, stereotypical or incredibly racist or negative. There's a difference between wearing "black hair" and portraying black people as slaves or lazy. I haven't found a single instance of a case of cultural appropriation. And those that might be closest to it, are mostly fantasized, romantic images of foreign cultures, that are more naive or too positive(!) than classically racist. You might call the romantic images racist as well, but only slightly. For example, western converts to Western sufi Islam or new age buddhism, both religions that have absolutely nothing to do with Islam or Tibetan Buddhism, because they are westernized, romanticised versions of the religion. But in their case it doesn't really offend muslims or Buddhists, they just ignore all the bad stuff about the religion. The same is about romantic depictions of the "noble savage", that is only being used to reinforce an antimodern, reactionary view on modernity and liberalism as a mirror of what the authors hate about that. But they do not care about the actual, fair contents inside these cultures. So a westernized muslim for example will just plainly ignore the rampant sexism and antisemitism and homophobia inside orthodox islam. And that will only become a problem, when they are misjudging the culture of beliefs.
I'm Polynesian (Native Hawaiian to be exact.) I wasn't born there, but I have visited and I grew up with the culture. Personally, I took no issue with how the Polynesian culture was treated in Moana. In fact, compared to the disney movies of old, I thought the creators handled it very well. In movies like Pocahontas or Aladdin, the culture is used as a backdrop but not really explored. It is explored in Moana though, and I liked that about the movie. (Though it's honestly not my favorite. I'm too attached to the disney renaissance period.)
In regards to your last question though, to me it didn't matter that the animators didn't really explore the issues that Polynesians are facing today. It's a disney princess movie, and if they changed to plot to Moana holding her own and trying to preserve her culture when her lands are being colonized, there would have most likely been a myriad of problematic statements that could have been potentially made. Disney did right to stick with their tried and true formula.This time however, they did so while using the culture in a meaningful, and respectful way. At the end of the day, to me, it was enough that Disney took the Polynesian culture and did so with respect, because it may lead to those who are interested to go and do more research themselves.
+La Boheme Soleil Cool I'm glad you enjoyed it. I can't speak to how it handled representation in Moana, but I think that it is good to hear from Polynesians about it from both sides.
Pocahontas was an incorrect movie. The girl was in her early teens, kidnapped force to marry, taken to England, died on a boat coming back to Americas.
"Do you care more about Polynesian people than you did before?" Actually, I will guarentee you there were people in my community who didn't know what the word Polynesian meant before this movie. They wouldn't know that people lived on islands other than Hawaii. After Moana I looked up how ancient navigation and stuff from the movie worked. I think education like that can work as someone's "foot in the door" to care about issues that Polynesian people face today. Disney telling a story about a different culture can help normalize... telling diverse stories, if nothing else.
"I am Moana!" makes me cry every damn time! The soundtrack is that good!
Weird, they kept it in the Italian version, he says "Sia lode ad Allah!"
I wish you'd talked about Coco. I'm really interested in what you think about the movie and its portrayal of the culture
I’m Mexican and I can say it was very well done, very true to our day of the dead traditions
Coco actually had a lot of Spanish speakers part of the creation of it, so I don't think it will suffer the same cultural appropriation. I definitely agree though, a video on it would be great. Maybe seeing how Coco does culture right, vs the Disney method.
me too
@@davehan241 the video “Coco’s Feel Good Oppression” would definitely be worth your watchtime then
@@healgoth Great video suggestion. It seems like focusing on the individual triumph while only using the the systemic problems as a background is probably so commonplace I've never even thought about it.
9:09 "If everyone who liked and enjoyed Pocahontas cared about the Dakota Pipeline, that would be a non-issue." Facts!
What you said about the "praise Allah!" in Aladdin is so interesting and funny at the same time because I'm French, and in the French version there is so no reference to Allah
I know old video and probably won't see this comment. I totally agree with all the points, especially about how the goal is not for representation but for profit, but do want to share the impact Moana has had on my community here in Aotearoa, particularly since it was one of the first major films ever to be released in te reo Māori (and a range of other Poly languages! I feel like this has often been left out of the discussion how some languages are having the first ever major film released in Moana!).
We have films that centre Māori, but they tend to be independent, essentially smaller-time Aotearoa-only productions like Boy, The Whale Rider, Once Were Warriors, etc., where having a major worldwide release of a film that centres Polynesians & Polynesian culture is so unheard of- and when we have been, it's been primarily about Hawai'i specifically and generally from an American perspective. Even with that Māori still get more than Pasifika, who I can't even think of anything smalltime that portrays Samoa, Tuvalu, Fiji, Tonga, Rapa Nui (for anything other than racist conspiracy theories), Niue, etc. Even then most/virtually all films that do are post-colonisation and early colonisation/pre-colonisation history is erased. I can see a thousand films about King Arthur, Hercules, or Caesar, but nothing on Hongi Hika (seriously how has he not had a film), Hinemoa and Tutanekai, or Kupe, or other Poly figures like Nafanua.
At Ihumātao, we had screenings of Moana in te reo Māori and for kids to see themselves *and their own cultural language* shown on screen was unbelievably powerful. Virtually every little Māori girl I know has her posters and dolls and outfits. I really hate that this kind of representation is so rare and when occurs tends to be much less ideal than Moana (which to be honest, other than the laziness of her name being a "twist" to anyone who doesn't speak a Poly language, Maui being more of a grump than a direct trickster, and the body types portrayed, I didn't have much of a problem with. On the back-end side, the first screenplay was written by Taika Waititi and he had to pull out for other projects and as far as I could tell, Poly people were involved and influential throughout), but I think it needs to be a wider thing than *just* a Disney problem, more that Disney has the only major film releases that has shown us basically at all. With the exception of really harmful representation like I'd argue Once Were Warriors is, it feels like I really want just *literally anything* and Moana fulfils that and didn't do too bad a job of it. Disney's an imperial international corporation and their "art" is always going to be distorted by the profit motive, but so far they're the only ones to even put us on screen. I'd argue that not showing us at all like other major studios says a lot more than a suboptimal representation
I don't know if it's because I'm white and I don't have a negative experience of my culture being appropriated but cultural appropriation makes most sense to me in economic terms. I loved Moana too and it did make me more aware of Polynesian history and culture (at least their representation of it, not sure how accurate) but when I see the Disney Moana resort on Hawai'i....girl. Who is beneficial financially from this? Disney CEOs and big bucks shareholders. I guess the Polynesian people who gave their input behind the scenes got paid for their work but "The Brand" of Moana, the merch, the resort as well as all the money made from the movie itself, it overwhelmingly benefits the (mostly white) Disney company more than any Polynesian perosn and after using their culture to tell a story, it's incredibly unfair.
To be completely fair, disney has a tendency to screw over every group they depict. Chinese, Japanese, Gay, Black, Hawaiian, Russian... Basically anyone who isn't a white-stereotypical-god-fearing-straight-american has been treated like shit. it's just that with poc and gay culture they REAAAAAALLLLY want these people to spend their money on disney products, even if they aren't willing to put in any effort to do justice to these groups.
Just a reminder, you mentioned Tiana was the only princess who did not get to be wit a man of her same race, but Pochahantas wasn't either.
And, I would just like to throw out there, too, none of the Caucasian princess movies address any cultural issues, either. In fact, with the exceptions of Belle and Merida, we don't really know where any of the Caucasian princesses are from. There is lots of speculation where they are from, but it's all speculation. Most of the Caucasian princess are just understood to be from "some magical kingdom somewhere". So, really, where any of the princesses are from is pretty much just a backdrop to the story, and exploration of culture, if any, is just used to serve the main story line across the board.
I agree, Disney is out to make money. But I think they do a pretty decent job over all of promoting inclusion. They are on the forefront of the movement. I see ot as kind of their job to ease people into opening up their minds just a little at a time. In other words, baby steps. Baaaaaby steps. Lol!
I love your blogs and reviews! Especially the Gilmore Girls one. So good! Keep it up!
Anne Harvey You are totally right! I can't believe I forgot about that. It's probably because she does end up with him at the end officially. But she does end up with basic as hell John Rolfe!
MelinaPendulum, you're right...and I'd forgotten that part. Lol!
@Islandgirl POV, excellent points ❤
I love how you geek out over the soundtrack at the end....my favourite part is the reprise of "How Far I'll Go"...when she's on the boat and the lights go out and then.........
Quite informative and thought-provoking discussion here. It hit some really strong topics head on and gave a lot of great understanding and perspective towards racial appropriation, and that was quite refreshing to hear about not just in a passing comment or a single sentence when talking about Disney as a whole.
15:12 This is a great point! Makes me think of a “Bechdel Test” of sorts, but for Representation.
(Edit: Typos Fix)
LoL, that basic Frozen comment.
Yay you are back hugs! I love your videos.
Most of my childhood I thought Aladdin took place in in India because of the tiger & I thought that Arabian Nights was a type of night.
My family on my dad's side is literally from the Middle East and same. XD
Can't say Moana had any influence on me, but I did care more about Polynesian people than before after Lilo & Stitch, and I'm not even sure they were named as such in that movie.
Nation by left more of an impact though.
Aladdin is kinda the original globe trotter though, A Persian story originally taking place in China changed to now take place in Arabia.
I think Aladdin may be set so far back, that it's pre-Islamic. I always thought Agrabah was meant to be in ancient Persia, not Arabia, but who knows.
Interesting take frfr
Well put! This is why I won't watch Moana or Coco etc. It's ironic to me because watching these movies supports the very dominant culture that's oppressing indigenous cultures. And many indigenous people support Disney movie/ Disney land etc.
Instead of Native American... First Nations or indigenous/native or by their tribal name.
7:36 Noooooooo, Melina, honey, you really didn't do your reasearch, have you? One Thousand and One Nights was compiled during the Islamic Golden Age, BUT the time frame of the main story is during the Sasanian Empire, from 224 to 651 AD. BEFORE Islam was created. So if the main time frame is from 224 to 651 AD, Scheherazade's stories would have taken place BEFORE the main story. So ALL the characters in One Thousand and One Nights AREN'T muslims because Islam wasn't even a thing in that time period. The characters lived in a Pre-Islamic time period.
Also, if you want to get really authentic with the story of Aladdin, it says he lived in "one of the cities of China", probably one with strong Arabic influence like Xinjiang, the most Western region of China.
And your concern is about the muslims who weren't even a thing in that time period? How about having a little concern for the Chinese in Xinjiang?
HotaruKara hi, I wasn't referring to the characters in the One Thousand and One Nights, I was referring to them as they are in the Aladdin film which the Sultan does say Praise Allah. But thanks for that information is informative to have
HotaruKara also if answer your other comment which I can't find. Of course other groups culturally appropriate it was one example of a popular type not an indicator that just white do it
lol. That's just, wow. You mean there was Abrahamic religion before Islam, which Muhammad copy-pasted into his Quran?
It wasn't a real question, it was a rhetoric one. By "retconned" you mean they were falsely changed into muslims by Muhammad. Since the old testament peole regarded themselves as Jews.
You mean "the characters in Arabian Nights are FALSELY RETCONNED as muslims". Since by REAL historical standards they weren't.
HotaruKara@ "Since the old testament peole regarded themselves as Jews." - The word "Jew" is never used until quite late into the old testament. Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jacob etc are never referred to as Jews. Jacob's descendants are called Hebrews or Israelites. Judah is only one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
I feel like coco wouldve been a better example with disney trying to copyright dia de los muertos but where moana does connect to culture appropriation is the disney parks in hawaii and the maui suits disney is profiting off of polynesian culture and its not cool next thing you know maui will be copyrighted even though the demi god has been around for years
Off topic, but what are your thoughts on the new Death Note trailer? Do you think it's white washing and has questionable implications? Or something else?
Also, what do you think about the series Legend Quest on Netflixs? Since it's kinda like Gravity Falls meets an adventure series with Aztec lore made by a Mexican studio and writers.
Also off topic have you heard of Andi Mack? I would like to know your thoughts. The main characters are poc and rumor has it there's will be a gay character
Karlee Craziness is there a problem with someone who is gay in a Disney series
what about a video about A Goofy Movie and how goofy always felt low key black. (even in KH type shit.)
lol I loveeeeee this, so insightful new subscriber :)
10:01 How can you say that "there is very little going on that has to do with Chinese culture"?
The movie is all about Chinese tradition and history. The setting itself is during a Mongol invasion, you know, the Mongols? China's neighbors which China had to battle many times in real history. Most of the movie is the preparation and the actual battle against the Mongols.
Also, the movie had aspects of Confucian philosophy, Chinese tradition is imbuded with Confucian philosophy. One of the principals of Confucianism is to listen to and obey your elders and parents and another is to take care of your parents.
Those two principals collided in Mulan's mind, and she chose to take care of her parent over obeying her parent. That's the reason why she took her father's place and enrolled in the army.
Another reason has to do with going against the grain and keeping your individuality that Disney likes so much.
The song at the beginning of the movie with the aunties that pressure Mulan to dress more feminine and find a husband represent another Confucian aspect: community. In Chinese and Confucian tradition there is much more emphasis being put on the cohesiveness of the community, than the wants and wishes of the individual.
Whitening the face is part of the Chinese culture, as well as Asian culture in general (like geishas in Japan)
10:27 You know context matters, right? What was the context of the movie? It was the end of the 90's when gender was discussed much more openly than even a few years previously or more, decades. So of course they took that opportunity and chose a movie about an mythical Chinese female warrior, Hua Mulan. Her hiding her gender in order to battle, the original story is all about gender, you know?
Also, China was just as sexist as all other early medieval countries (the Hua Mulan story is put between 420-589 AD). The reason why gender wasn't discussed is easy: what, it was possible to discuss it in the 30's, 50's, 60's? It's Disney after all, in that time period it would have been viewed as too risqué. It has nothing to do with it being Chinese and not European and making China look so bad and sexist and Europe perfect. It was just that Walt Disney wanted to adapt European folk tales and wasn't that interested or didn't even know about other cultures except Western ones enough to make a movie about it. And it just so happened that those movies that were made during the 30's-60's while Walt Disney was alive, coincided with a time period in which gender wasn't openly discussed. It wasn't a big anti-Chinese conspiracy from Disney. The original Chinese story itself makes gender the most important aspect.
Enough with the facile, learned by heart identity politics. You're smarter than that, I'm disappointed.
The world is more complex than that, you know?
Yeah nah people from China didn’t even like Mulan (cartoon) because it didn’t depict Chinese culture accurately. And many Chinese people thought that Mulan was too assertive, something you wouldn’t see in women in Confucius culture
😂I’m only looking this up for a project. I personally don’t think of any issue towards Disney films. They shouldn’t be looked into this as much
The comments here are wiiiiiiiild
😬
All your videos are nice
3:14 why are we talking about illegal drugs?
Ong🤣
Good explanation of cultural appropriation, and I say that as a Chief Wahoo loving Cleveland Indians' fan.
I have never gotten the Frozen hype beyond the titular song being brilliant and oh yeah. Not an ethnic character to be seen.
I would suggest looking up the Sami people and their relation to the "frozen" movies, it's easy to forget the indigenous people of scandinavia as (sadly) a lot of erasure has been going on over the years, but it doesn't mean that they don't exist.
Cultural appropriation is not a thing. There is something as a racist or stereotypical depiction of people, like black men in 90s series, who are just weirdly attacking people for no reason, or "black transformers", or gypsy witch portrays of Roma people, etc.
But that is not cultural appropriation, it is not a thing. Everytime i see Japanese animators include weird and mostly incorrect christian imagery into their films or include a botched, embarrassing German language line, i don't get offended, i am kind of proud, that they include it.
The only issue is, if the depictions are fair or if they are cliche, stereotypical or incredibly racist or negative.
There's a difference between wearing "black hair" and portraying black people as slaves or lazy.
I haven't found a single instance of a case of cultural appropriation. And those that might be closest to it, are mostly fantasized, romantic images of foreign cultures, that are more naive or too positive(!) than classically racist. You might call the romantic images racist as well, but only slightly.
For example, western converts to Western sufi Islam or new age buddhism, both religions that have absolutely nothing to do with Islam or Tibetan Buddhism, because they are westernized, romanticised versions of the religion. But in their case it doesn't really offend muslims or Buddhists, they just ignore all the bad stuff about the religion.
The same is about romantic depictions of the "noble savage", that is only being used to reinforce an antimodern, reactionary view on modernity and liberalism as a mirror of what the authors hate about that. But they do not care about the actual, fair contents inside these cultures. So a westernized muslim for example will just plainly ignore the rampant sexism and antisemitism and homophobia inside orthodox islam. And that will only become a problem, when they are misjudging the culture of beliefs.