Episode Summary
In pursuit of another Oscar-worthy animated feature, Disney chose a culturally significant protagonist and pumped up the romance for Pocahontas (1995). Unsurprisingly, good intentions didn’t prevent a group of white men from creating a hugely problematic film, rife with gross historical inaccuracies, racism, and misogyny! Pocahontas underperformed at the box office, and the only Oscar went to Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for best original song.
Episode Bibliography
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Thanks to Katie Seelen for her research assistance.
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