Monday, February 21, 2005
Disney and Pirates of The Caribbean
As some of you may know Pirates Of The Caribbean was filmed in St Vincent and the Grenadines. SVG,along with Dominica and Bahamas(I think) were chosen for the filming of parts two and three of the movie.Now controversy is looming with regards to a scene that Disney wants to make a part of the film.Apparently Disney wants to put a scene that depicts Caribs as cannibals but stops short of showing them eating flesh.This scene is supposed to be filmed in Dominica.
Both St Vincent and Dominica have a large Carib population.In Dominica's case there is a Reserve complete with a chief,while in SVG the majority of Caribs live in the north of the island.The Dominican Carib chief has gone on record voicing his disapproval of the proposed scene.The question now is will Disney back down or will money talk?
Historians have long put to rest the myth that Caribs were cannibals.Studies have proved that Caribs kept the limbs etc because they felt that keeping a part of the warrior gave them added strength.So,is it fair for a movie company to destroy all the gains that Caribs as a race have acquired by this negative depiction? I think not and I think the protest should have been coming from the leadership of the island of Dominica and not necessarily the Carib Chief.But apparently(according to a column in this week's paper) the Dominican government seems more focused on the financial benefits rather than on the perpetuation of myths and the insult to the dignity of their native people.
It makes me wonder what would have been the response of the Vincentian government if that offending scene were to be filmed here.This against the backdrop that the only national hero this island has is Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer.Would we have sold out? I really don't know.
Hopefully,Disney would not get its way because if it does it means that all our talk about preserving our indigenous peoples and their history is just that.
Both St Vincent and Dominica have a large Carib population.In Dominica's case there is a Reserve complete with a chief,while in SVG the majority of Caribs live in the north of the island.The Dominican Carib chief has gone on record voicing his disapproval of the proposed scene.The question now is will Disney back down or will money talk?
Historians have long put to rest the myth that Caribs were cannibals.Studies have proved that Caribs kept the limbs etc because they felt that keeping a part of the warrior gave them added strength.So,is it fair for a movie company to destroy all the gains that Caribs as a race have acquired by this negative depiction? I think not and I think the protest should have been coming from the leadership of the island of Dominica and not necessarily the Carib Chief.But apparently(according to a column in this week's paper) the Dominican government seems more focused on the financial benefits rather than on the perpetuation of myths and the insult to the dignity of their native people.
It makes me wonder what would have been the response of the Vincentian government if that offending scene were to be filmed here.This against the backdrop that the only national hero this island has is Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer.Would we have sold out? I really don't know.
Hopefully,Disney would not get its way because if it does it means that all our talk about preserving our indigenous peoples and their history is just that.
# posted by Abeni @ 6:30 AM 
Comments:
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Maybe all de Caribs (from dif'rent islands) should protest collectively, then Disney might have to listen. Isn't it de age-old problem though, Kami? In de U.S. media, yu rarely (if ever) see or hear ov any image ov Africa, except for de least developed areas that make de whole continent appear wild an' primitive. It's still a conspiracy.
I hope that they don't get to put it in their movie. It's unfortunate that most of the places that they choose for filming need the money and media attention that these films draw. It's no secret that most of our Caribbean states are cash strapped. They say that when money talk, bullsh*t walk. Hope that the BS not allowed to walk any futher than down the drain in this case.
Girl, ,the biggups always want tuh find a way tuh further degrade the Caribbean and it's natives. Money do talk and Disney being who they are will try to make money talk more that preserving a peoples history. In this case I hope all the Caribbean join hands and not let this sceen to filmed.
wonder why they have to make a part II of that pile of sh*t.
funny about history isn't it. someone should do a movie about the atrocities done to the Caribs by the spanish.
I suppose money talks
funny about history isn't it. someone should do a movie about the atrocities done to the Caribs by the spanish.
I suppose money talks
Hmmm, it's interesting to see how much the US are willing to trample other cultures and civilizations just for the sake of selling movie tickets (think National Treasure, The Mummy, and Cool Runnings). Anything to make the box office sing!! It sux, but if they deem it "necessary" for the "integrity" of the film, then no amount of protesting will stop it.
Obi,there are sequels cos it was a blockbuster.What was surprising to me was Johnny Depp best actor nomination.
AD..I read in the papers that the native Americans were able to get movie studios to agree not to film them negatively.Maybe we in thee parts won't be as lucky
AD..I read in the papers that the native Americans were able to get movie studios to agree not to film them negatively.Maybe we in thee parts won't be as lucky
I hope they turn away from that scene since its a lie :-(
After all, up till I read this, I still thought the Caribs were cannibals.
After all, up till I read this, I still thought the Caribs were cannibals.
it's also election time here too. so money really talks...the chief is right.And it is a territory not a reservation.
# posted by 
: 12:22 AM
: 12:22 AM
Well Kami...you know money talks....sorry to hear this.
I had no idea there were still Caribs alive in the Caribbean. Interesting. Thanks for that info. Dr. D.
I had no idea there were still Caribs alive in the Caribbean. Interesting. Thanks for that info. Dr. D.
# posted by : 9:06 PM
: 9:06 PM
Sadly we didn't write our own history so the only group who resisted the gold-hungry Columbus and his crew of convicts were labelled cannibals so that it would seem justified in trying to kill them off.
Let's open our eyes.It still happens today. You resist and your name is ruined. As for the movie, does it really need that scene? It would be great for the island but the caribs should get an ear (no pun intended).
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Let's open our eyes.It still happens today. You resist and your name is ruined. As for the movie, does it really need that scene? It would be great for the island but the caribs should get an ear (no pun intended).
# posted by : 8:28 PM
: 8:28 PM << Home
