A Comparative Study Of Pocahontas And Pocahontas â…¡: Journey To A New World

This essay applies the argument of "the Utopian nature of mass culture" provided byAmerican Marxian theorist Fredric Jameson and the theory of Orientalism provided byAmerican post-colonial theorist Edward W. Said to the analysis. According to the comparisonof two animation films released by Walt Disney Pictures, Pocahontas and Pocahontas II:Journey to a New World, the author concludes the differences of Pocahontas in the two filmsand points out the intentions of the masses behind the differences. The essay is divided intothree parts:Part One is the introduction. This part presents the main plots of the two films, lists thecritical responses at home and abroad, concludes the central argument of the essay andintroduces the theories applied in the essay.Part Two the main body. This part is made up of three chapters.Chapter One presents the differences of Pocahontas in self-identity pursuit, analyses howPocahontas evolves from a hesitating girl into a decision-maker and infers the reasons for theevolution. This chapter mainly talks about the influence of John Smith and GrandmotherWillow on Pocahontas' character.Chapter Two presents the differences of Pocahontas in treating cultural clashes, analyseshow Pocahontas evolves from a paradoxical compromiser into a resolute fighter againstwhites' discrimination and infers the reasons for the evolution. This chapter mainly expatiateson the change in attitude and behavior when Pocahontas witnesses the clashes between thetwo cultures.Chapter Three presents the differences of Pocahontas in choosing her lover, analyses thepersonality of John Smith and John Rolfe and points out why the latter is more suitable to bePocahontas' lover than the former. This chapter mainly discusses which white man is inaccordance with Pocahontas in nature.Part Three is the conclusion. This part concludes the differences of Pocahontas in the twofilms and discloses the Utopian nature of mass culture implied in the differences.