This is a nature-boy movie, a kid's daydream of being an Indian. When Dunbar has become a Sioux named Dances with Wolves, he writes in his journal that he knows for the first time who he really is. Costner has feathers in his hair and feathers in his head.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Kael critiques the film for romanticizing indigenous identity and projecting a white protagonist's self-discovery onto Native culture.
- In plain terms
- The movie is a fantasy about a white kid pretending to be Native.
- What can you take from it?
- Cultural appropriation often masks self-centered storytelling.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is the story authentic?
- Who is this story for?
Another view
Some viewers find value in cross-cultural connection despite flaws.
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