Thread by @Rebecca_L_Rowe, I just saw Frozen 2: it's about how colonialism always lies, about [...]

Rebecca Rowe

Rebecca_L_Rowe

I just saw Frozen 2: it& #39;s about how colonialism always lies, about how colonialist "gifts" are always for their own benefit and the detriment of others, about how colonists get to write histories to vilify indigenous peoples and glorify themselves. And I gotta say...

I love that Disney released an anti-colonialism film the week before Thanksgiving. And they do so intentionally (spoilers ahead): the movie starts with Arendelle having a Thanksgiving-like celebration wherein they pat themselves on the back for how fair and awesome they are...

Then the rest of the film shows how that "equality" was built on purposefully harming other (indigenous) peoples. Anna and Elsa have to recognize that their family was responsible for these problems...

And Anna actively chooses to risk the ill-gotten bounties of her people to restore what her family and kingdom took from the local peoples. This is all to say...

Both the film and its characters recognize the problems with colonialism and works to right them. I& #39;m sure it& #39;s not perfect, and I look forward to hearing what indigenous scholars have to say, but this film, to me, looks like what Disney can do if they try to be better.

I& #39;m not sure if the message about the ills of colonialism is overt enough, but it& #39;s a powerful message to send as adults continue to perpetuate harmful stories around Thanksgiving.

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