Pocahontas

Intial thoughts: I've never seen this movie so I don't have any predispositions. I doubt I actually catch any minute details because this will be my first time watching, but YOLO.

Okay, let me say that the pink outfit is a bit eye-catching. I think even as a child I might've questioned the idea behind that. Don't most children think "boys don't wear pink"? But Governor Radcliffe's voice is very deep and masculine. The pig tails and boys as well as him carrying around this puppy is triggering a bit of femininity.

The native women are beautiful and curvy with their long hair. The men are muscular and strong. Interesting enough, even the old Chief has a strong and tone body. The typical gender roles are employed here with women working the crops and preparing meals and taking care of children; the men are fishing and hunting. However, this is one time that these roles are attributed to Disney; it's a product of the times and survival of native people.

Pocahontas already stands out to me because the elder called her a free spirit and she jumps off a cliff into a waterfall. That's not very feminine at all. She breaks the bounds of gender already. Her and her sister even have a water fight. Pocahontas also even turns down her potential husband and questions her father's choice for her. Her father is typical with his idea that the top warrior is her best prospect because he will "build a sturdy home" and "protect [her]." This ironically contrasts to the Sultan in Aladdin who allows Jasmine to marry Aladdin despite him being poor and a petty thief.

So far, I feel like Pocahontas is a good example to girls. She's strong-willed and free spirited.

A talking tree? Seriously? And an animal audience? Wow, Disney. Wow.

Governor Radcliffe has a huge nose and isn't attractive. His apprentice is quite scrawny and nerdy looking too... Smith is quite handsome though, very chiseled.

Oh, Smith is nice to animals. How clichè.

"Pale visitors" LOL.

Did Radcliffe really just claim land that doesn't belong to him at all? Seriously, settlers are so arrogant. WAIT... Smith just brought recognition that there might be "Indians" (not politically correct at all) out on the land! Is he the good guy? Because I think I like him.

Okay... Radcliffe and this gold outfit is a bit extravagant, especially with the soldiers carrying pink feathers. BUT, he did just get kisses from women fonding over him. SO, this gender stuff is difficult.

I really don't appreciate them just blowing and digging up land... GO HOME THIS PLACE DOESN'T TO YOU. (But thanks because I kind of like America xoxo)

Pocahontas is so HOT and she looks so feminist and powerful when she stands and stops Smith in his tracks and causes him to put his gun down. YOU GO GIRL.

Disney's so corny for the flowing leaves and sparkles around Pocahontas and Smith... I mean I could turn the movie off right now and still know that they get married.

Radcliffe shoots his own gun... and does it well enough that he actually hits someone. So, the henchman point made by LaPointe and Li-Vollmer is void here.

"A man is not a man unless he learns how to shoot." GENDER ROLES DISNEY. This is basically propaganda for conservative America and the second amendment.

Of course he teaches her a handshake. Very macho John.

Thanks for the culture, Disney. I didn't know how they said hello and goodbye.

"We'll show you people how to use this land properly." "You think that only because you don't know any better." "We've been improving the lives of savages all over the world." This is sick and offensive. I'm offended and I'm not even Native American.

"Still I can't see that the savage one is me." YOU GO POCAHONTAS. This song just redeemed Disney because at first I thought this was going to get really disprectful towards Native Americans.

"I've never really belonged anywhere." Please spare me the sob story Johnny boy.

Okay, I want this to be over because their love story is just TOO corny. "When can I see you again?" as he passionately strokes her face. WOWWWWWWW.

"White demons." Ouch, that's kind of harsh.

Radcliffe does represent masculinity in my opinion. He threatens to punish/murder anyone that looks at an Indian; isn't that how men show their masculinity? By being strong in their punishment?

"Sometimes the right path isn't the easiest." Very positive message for Disney.

Interracial relationship? YES DISNEY. LOVE IT. I mean, besides the fact that Smith is pedophilic... but he's a product of the times.

This song sucks.... I can't suffer through 20 more minutes of this. Please. Help me.

"Their skin's a hellish red. They're only good when dead. They're savages." "Barely even human." "They're not like you and me which means they must be evil." This is literally the basis of American racism and white supremacy. This scene and song is so problematic. How did it not get changed like the Aladdin song? This is damaging to young Native American children and to children in general who naturally regurgitate what they hear.

Overall, it's hard to determine who the real villain is here. Obviously Radcliffe is the worst of them all, but all of them are murderous and angry. Villainy isn't the most problematic part of this Disney movie though. The implications of hatred and savagery amongst Native Americans is damaging to the integration of America, but also this might be the most accurate representation of American values and ideas.