Indian Comics Irregular #52

In the 1997 movie "Jungle 2 Jungle," Tim Allen discovers his
estranged wife gave birth to a son named Mimi-Siku 13 years ago.
Raised as a Amazon jungle Indian, Mimi knows little about "civilized"
ways. His visit to New York City is a comedy of cultural errors.

Unfortunately, Mimi-Siku represents a common type: the white man
(boy) playing the Native. Naturally the moviemakers couldn't build a
movie around an actual Indian boy. Instead they went with a blond
Anglo heartthrob.

Moreover, Mimi-Siku is a stereotype of the pure and innocent savage.
Except for learning English. he hasn't been touched by civilization.
A skilled outdoorsman, he's a classic mystical eco-warrior.

Here are some of Mimi's dubious traits:

· Can hit a fly with a blowgun at ten paces.
· Sleeps shirtless, even on an exposed high-rise patio on a windy
night.
· Wears a headband.
· Can climb the Statue of Liberty from outside--again, shirtless.
· Cooks and eats someone's pet fish, though he's learned about pet
cats and has his own pet tarantula.
· Knocks out a criminal with an Indian "nerve pinch."

At least Mimi-Siku speaks reasonably well and is sensitive to his
surroundings (except for the fish). The stereotypes might be okay if
Mimi were some kind of Native Superboy. But in a realistic movie,
they only perpetuate the fantasy of the otherworldly Indian.

Not Far Enough Away

Another '90s movie is notable for what it doesn't say about Indians.
"Far and Away," the Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman historical drama, shows
immigrants racing to claim a piece of Oklahoma land. What it doesn't
show is that the Cherokee and other Indians already possessed this
land.

Advisor Steve Russell has written a moving essay about how this
thoughtless movie pained him. To read it, head to
http://www.imdiversity.com, click the Native-American Village button,
then the link for the Commentary department. To see Steve's other
commentaries, try the links for Arts & Culture, Politics & Law, and
Reviews.

Harmless Stereotypes?

According to an Indian Country Today poll of 450 American Indian
opinion leaders, published 10/18/00:

"Is there a growing anti-Indian sentiment in the country?"

Yes 76%
No 13%
Unsure 11%

"What do you believe is the primary cause of anti-Indian sentiment?"

Media stereotypes 45%
US government 33%
Systemic racism 22%

So the people who know best about anti-Indian sentiment blame it
primarily on media stereotypes. Seems like a persuasive argument to
me. For more on the effects of stereotypes, go to
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/stquotes.htm.

More Good Reviews

Thankfully, PEACE PARTY continues to receive good notices. The
Navajo-Hopi Observer gave us a nice write-up, and Lindbergh Namingha,
a Hopi who is chairman of the Native American Association of Germany,
wrote, "Wow!! Great comics, Mr. Schmidt!!" Their views are
important because the comics are about these people and their
cultures.

For the full opinions, visit our Reviews page at
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/reviews.htm and Fans page at
http://www.bluecorncomics.com/fans.htm.

Rob Schmidt
Blue Corn Comics