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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

  • evaluating cultural films
  • discussing race
  • analyzing narratives

Putting it to work

  • critique cultural stereotypes
  • demand authentic stories
  • identify projection

Questions to consider

  • Is the story authentic?
  • Who is this story for?

Another view

Some viewers find value in cross-cultural connection despite flaws.

More from Pauline Kael

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  2. If you can't make fun of bad movies on serious subjects, what's the point?

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  3. If there is any test that can be applied to movies, it's that the good ones never make you feel virtuous.

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