The first time I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom I was very young and I was unaware of the aspects of orientalism within the film. However, I only just recently watched the movie a few weeks ago and I still did not notice any orientalism and I was unaware of how racist it really was until our class discussion today.
It is clear that this movie depicts the east in negative stereotypes originated in the West. It is not only seen through the depiction of the Indian people, but also in the side kick Short-Round. Everything that is east is depicted as savage, uneducated, and irrational. And it is only through the arrival of the white man that the people can be saved.
I understand the undertones of orientalism and how the Indi1an people are portrayed in a negative way, however, what I find really interesting is that I do not believe Lucas or Spielberg intended the movie to be offensive in any way. I think the stereotypes that are within the film were used simply for laughs and depicting the typically narrow western view of the east. However, the filmmakers clearly went too far, and this movie makes Lucas and Spielberg seem extremely insensitive and chauvenistic.
It is clear that this movie depicts the east in negative stereotypes originated in the West. It is not only seen through the depiction of the Indian people, but also in the side kick Short-Round. Everything that is east is depicted as savage, uneducated, and irrational. And it is only through the arrival of the white man that the people can be saved.
I understand the undertones of orientalism and how the Indi1an people are portrayed in a negative way, however, what I find really interesting is that I do not believe Lucas or Spielberg intended the movie to be offensive in any way. I think the stereotypes that are within the film were used simply for laughs and depicting the typically narrow western view of the east. However, the filmmakers clearly went too far, and this movie makes Lucas and Spielberg seem extremely insensitive and chauvenistic.
1 comment:
I'm glad that the class activity worked for you.
A clarification: I probably went overboard in arguing that Lucas and Spielberg had racist and sexist intentions. Their intentions really don't matter. We have their text, which clearly does spread racist and sexist ideology.
Hope this helps.
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