So, I finally saw this last night, so I now have a little bit more right to talk about the racism etc. and also what I liked about the movie.
Here's a brief enumeration of the parts I thought were based in racist stereotypes:
1) The Cannibals. Yes, it's been said before. The portrayal of Carib people as cannibals harms actual people who are actually living today, so it's not "excusable" as harmless fun in a fantasy world by Disney. Disney would say that people should be able to tell the difference between "fantasy" island cannibals and the real Carib people. But little kids go see this movie, and they are less critical of the difference between fantasy and reality. Even when you know these depictions are fantasy, it's easy to let them affect your opinions of people with darker skin or people from certain parts of the world.
Further— it's not just the people on the island who were cannibals. Remember the stereotyped Jamaican guy on the dock? "Long pig, mmmmm MMMM!" So apparantly, at this point in the movie, all dark-skinned people are potential cannibals.
2) The Cowardly PoC. From the Jafakean's apparently Haitian brother in the boat (unconscious reflection of the Haitian refugee stereotype? all right, that one's tenuous, we'll leave it be) to the cage full of Treacherous PoC (see 3), people who aren't white are usually portrayed as cowardly vs. the brave white people.
3) The Treacherous PoC. The cowardly vaguely middle-eastern types are prepared to betray the rest of the crew, including the white stars and a few token PoC in the background who are never very visible.
4) The Stupid PoC. Except they give away their plans by accident. And they keep climbing when doing so will give away their escape. And the cannibals are easily fooled, time and time again. And then they worship the dog after the credits finish rolling. Which brings us to...
5) The Worshipful PoC. The Cannibals want to worship the white people as gods. Not the dark skinned people. Not members of their own tribe. Failing that, a dog will do. Anyone miss the Black people holding candles as the white crew members sail by, their eyes upturned in what looks like worship, while the white characters sail to the home of...
6) The Magical Negro. It's important to notice about the magical Negro phenomenon that the MN is "the good Negro" because she helps the white people, but doesn't try to do anything on her own. The MN is othered for her maaaaaajykul paaawahz, but despite all her maaaajykul paaaaawahz she doesn't notice Jack stealing from her. See Stupid PoC, in 4 above. Also, her main motivation for helping?
7) The Lusty PoC. People of color lust after our white flesh. Obviously. Because in a swamp surrounded by all those beautiful people who were holding candles staring worshipfully at the white people, the men she finds attractive are apparently Jack and Will— Jack, whose poor hygiene is commented on by Elizabeth, and others, plenty of times.
Are there non-racist moments in the movie? Sure, and thank fuck for that. Let's see what they are:
Sexist moments:
1) Female anger depicted as impotent hysterics for laughs— Elizabeth on the beach flinging sand at the menfolk, not noticing while the ex-undead pirates walk away with the chest.
2) Threat of rape played for laughs, a few minutes later, when Elizabeth realizes she doesn't have her sword and the same pirates advance on her menacingly. Please note that unlike the last movie, they're on the good guys' side now, and we're meant to root for them in a lot of scenes. Now they're getting ready to rape Elizabeth, and this is supposed to be funny. Good job.
3) Sex used by a female character to manipulate a male character. Several times. Yes, this reinforces the idea that women are weak and manipulative, and the only way they have of getting what they want is trading sex for it.
On the other had, generally speaking, Elizabeth is a better and stronger character in this movie than in the first. She's tough, she makes decisions, and she's a damn good fighter.
Homophobic moments:
1) Homophobia played for laughs, when Jack thinks Elizabeth is a man and turns down what he thinks is her sexual advance, signaling to Gibbs not to let the fag on board. Just the once, that I noticed, but it's telling.
Absences:
Well, first a virtual absence: Invisible people of color in the background, so that the producers can point at the screen in the six seconds they're on camera and say "Look! There's a good person of color! A strong character! See the way he's hauling on that— wait, let me step the DVD back for you..."
Every single character came back! Even the dog! Every single— well, not Anna Maria. Why? Maybe it's because she's a strong person of color with her own agenda, and would ruin their streak. Maybe it's because they couldn't get that actor back. Maybe it's because she read the script and went "What is this horseshit? Nope, not playing; find someone else." Or maybe it's sheer coincidence. But the effect is that there's not even one PoC here who is not a stereotype. Even "invisible person of color in the background" is such a cinema trope it's a stereotype in its own right.
I don't think I'm going to see the third one. I know how it will work— Jack survives all Jonahlike. Davy Jones is reformed and his heart put back in his actual chest. Maybe Tia Dalma is even the woman he loved, who knows. Norrington does something vaguely heroic, and the governor is instrumental in getting him his commission back. Probably part of the plot is releasing the souls from Davy Jones' locker (which must be different from the "dead man's chest" because of what Bootstrap said to Jack at the beginning). Seeing more of Jack Sparrow's flair just isn't a good enough draw to keep me funding this racism.
But to one thing I liked about the movie, which so far I don't think anyone has mentioned: the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea references. Davy Jones is a teuthid Captain Nemo. Nemo also elected to sail the seas "forever" (albeit not literally) because his heart had hardened against humanity, due to some betrayal (if I recall correctly; it's been a long time). The first pipe organ scene, down to the glass window, is directly out of 20KL. Then there's the Kraken. And also the scene where Davy Jones orders the ship to dive. All a very effective homage, I thought. |
