Adam Sandler movie sparks debate over American Indian images

[Lite Beer]

Adam Sandler movie sparks debate over American Indian images
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — When a group of American Indian actors walked off the set of an Adam Sandler movie this week, their decision generated praise and scorn on social media.

But everyone agreed on one thing: Despite growing awareness, outdated Native American stereotypes in Hollywood remain. And more Native Americans are voicing their opinions.

This week, eight actors quit the production of the satirical Western "The Ridiculous Six" over complaints about offensive names and religious scenes. The actors said they couldn't participate in a movie depicting a Native American woman urinating while smoking a peace pipe.

California writer Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, founder of Natives in America, an online publication for Native American youth, said the walkout generated praise from American Indian advocates because people were tired of the images and now have outlets to express their outrage.

"In the past, Native actors did speak out but they didn't have the technology to share their views widely," Red Shirt-Shaw said. "It's different now."

On social media, activists used the hashtag #NotYourHollywoodIndian to denounce Sandler's project and to thank the actors for their "bravery."

Meanwhile, other Native Americans say more actors and writers are needed in media to battle hurtful images. They argued the actors should have stayed on set.

The Sandler film is set for a Netflix-only release, and the streaming service says it was designed to lampoon stereotypes popularized in Western movies.

A spokesman for Sandler's Manchester, New Hampshire,-based production company, Happy Madison Productions, didn't immediately return a phone message.

In recent years, Native Americans have been more outspoken.

For example, in 2013, some Native Americans were critical of Johnny Depp's portrayal on Tonto in the Disney version adaptation of "The Lone Ranger." Depp spoke in broken English, chanted prayers and wore a stuffed crow on his head. However, after a campaign by the movie to improve its image with Native Americans, Depp was eventually embraced on the Navajo Nation and was later adopted into the Comanche Nation.

A year before, the band No Doubt was forced to apologize and pull the music video "Looking Hot" after lead singer Gwen Stefani was criticize for dancing around teepees and wearing a series of American Indian-styled outfits.

Elise Marubbio, an American Indian Studies professor at Augsburg College, said those stereotypes are part of the nation's mythical West narrative and usually center on images of the Lakota, the last tribe defeated by U.S. government forces.

But often those Lakota characters of the Great Plains are portrayed living in Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation of the American Southwest, Marubbio said.

That portrayal has changed little since the 1930s and seems to give some a justification to disrespectfully use American Indian clothing and practices.

Goldie Tom, a female actor who walked off the Sandler production, said she knew the movie wasn't going to be historically accurate, but she thought it would be tasteful.

"I don't regret my decision to be in the movie," Tom said. "But after this experience, I'm reminded that we still have work to do."

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-04-25

[Somtamnication]

Good God. Political correctness gone mad. Anyone ever watch F Troop?

[Just1Voice]

I loved F Troop!!!!

[zaphod reborn]

Satire should be off-limits for political correctness. Most classic satires and comedies were politically incorrect. Imagine a sanitized Blazing Saddles, Holy Grail, The Longest Yard or Beverly Hills Cop. Scary.

[Just1Voice]

Satire should be off-limits for political correctness. Most classic satires and comedies were politically incorrect. Imagine a sanitized Blazing Saddles, Holy Grail, The Longest Yard or Beverly Hills Cop. Scary.

Blazing Saddles and Holy Grail have to be among the very top of the most UNpolitically correct movies every made, and they are true Classics!

NOTE: Along with "History of the World - Part One". (Sad, they never did Part Two)

Edited April 25, 2015 by Just1Voice

[ezzra]

Not a problem, throw some money at them and all the hurts and offended feelings will melt away..

money will correct the 'politically incorrectness' in every body now days....

[Camelot]

Adam Sandler plumbing the depths again. He hasn't made a good movie since Happy Gilmore in 1996.

[thaibeachlovers]

Adam Sandler plumbing the depths again. He hasn't made a good movie since Happy Gilmore in 1996.

Sandler makes movies that appeal to the lowest common denominator, not "good" movies. Probably because he has worked out that more chavs go to the movies than discerning viewers.

[NeilSA1]

Adam Sandler plumbing the depths again. He hasn't made a good movie since Happy Gilmore in 1996.

I'd be happy to say - "He hasn't made a good movie"

[Just1Voice]

I've sen one Adam Sandler movie, never bothered to watch another one. It's more entertaining just sitting on my porch with a cup of coffee and watching my grass grow.

[daoyai]

Zohan had some funny moments...

[thaibeachlovers]

Zohan had some funny moments...

Which is why I won't say he never made a watchable movie.

Spanglish was quite good.

[SOTIRIOS]

...considering what has been done to The Native Peoples........it does not show much skill on Sandler's part either...

[FlorC]

I think the real news is here : that an Adam Sandler movie sparked a debate.

Don't think that has happened ever before.

[how241]

Satire should be off-limits for political correctness. Most classic satires and comedies were politically incorrect. Imagine a sanitized Blazing Saddles, Holy Grail, The Longest Yard or Beverly Hills Cop. Scary.

+1...Everyone is very touchy these days.

[thatguy]

Any time Blazing Saddles is shown on US stations, it IS sanitized. Pity.

[Rykbanlor]

Megan Red shirt-Shaw, she should come and make some waves in Thailand

[Jingthing]

Adam Sandler is no Charlie Chaplin but if you accept work to act in a film and bail over something like this ... forget about working again. Nobody made them sign, did they?

[Suradit69]

Good God. Political correctness gone mad. Anyone ever watch F Troop?

Probably more than simply a case of political correctness being applied to a single movie.

Native Americans have been screwed over, confined to reservations that were little more than concentration camps, denied educational and employment opportunities and ostracized & segregated for years and years ... all of which has led to major problems with alcoholism and suicide within these populations. In films they've been lampooned and degraded almost continuously, used as sports teams' mascots (it's almost always animals or Indians) and portrayed as ridiculous cartoon characters with very little to counter-balance those images.

I think they have a reasonable point in wanting some degree of respect shown them in all aspects of their lives, especially for the sake of their children & younger people whose lives don't look a whole lot more promising than in previous generations, as is true of the aboriginal people in Australia.

This film is probably no worse than a lot of others, but for many marginalized people the entertainment industry has been a leader in changing the popular image and general acceptance of those who have been beaten down and made second-class citizens in their own country. Certainly movies and TV have been instrumental in improving public perceptions and greater inclusion of African Americans and the LGBT, as people from those groups were cast in more dignified and sympathetic roles ... along with some good-natured lampooning of & by themselves.

If you want to make a point and generate some discussion about a cause that you consider important, then there's no better way than ringing a wake-up call in Hollywood and spreading the word in social media.

Sometimes being "politically correct" can be simply "correct" and just saying enough of the crap already. Their cause is certainly more justified than 99% of the whining on Thai Visa by farang who imagine themselves as being discriminated against despite the fact that their lives are far more comfortable than the vast majority of Thai nationals. (And, nobody forced them to "sign up" to settle here either).

Edited April 25, 2015 by Suradit69

[Jingthing]

Sorry. I respect Sandler's right to make the movie he wants to make and then the market can decide.

They should hire illegal Mexican nationals to play the natives ... sorted.

If people want to protest at the screenings, that's a different matter.

[fred Kubasa]

What person, sane, would watch an Adam Sandler film ?

[Suradit69]

I think the real news is here : that an Adam Sandler movie sparked a debate.

Don't think that has happened ever before.

Don't forget the Seth Rogan piece of garbage, The Interview, and it's supposed attack from North Korea. If ever there was a movie that should have been killed at conception, that was the one.

Pretty sure most of the people who went to see it wouldn't have if there hadn't been any controversy about the dubious North Korean threats. As the saying goes, "any publicity is good publicity."

Edited April 25, 2015 by Suradit69

[Jingthing]

The Interview wasn't bad at all.

[Jingthing]

What person, sane, would watch an Adam Sandler film ?

Assuming this movie gets finished, I want to watch it!

Yes, I set myself up for this one.

Sane person. Ha ha.

No I haven't watched all the Sandler movies or anything but I am fond of him because of his famous Chanukah songs which are indeed very funny.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[Oziex1]

I loved F Troop!!!!

Were the Hecarewe Tribe

[mikebike]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Adam Sandler is no Charlie Chaplin but if you accept work to act in a film and bail over something like this ... forget about working again. Nobody made them sign, did they?

Sorry. I respect Sandler's right to make the movie he wants to make and then the market can decide.

They should hire illegal Mexican nationals to play the natives ... sorted.

If people want to protest at the screenings, that's a different matter.

So you respect the producer's right to make the film but do not respect the actor's right flip-off the film and their salary? Strange logic. I respect Sandler's right to make the film, and use freakin' Bosnian's as native Americans if he so chooses. I also respect the rights of native actors walking away from something which makes them feel uncomfortable.

[Jingthing]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Adam Sandler is no Charlie Chaplin but if you accept work to act in a film and bail over something like this ... forget about working again. Nobody made them sign, did they?

Sorry. I respect Sandler's right to make the movie he wants to make and then the market can decide.

They should hire illegal Mexican nationals to play the natives ... sorted.

If people want to protest at the screenings, that's a different matter.

So you respect the producer's right to make the film but do not respect the actor's right flip-off the film and their salary? Strange logic. I respect Sandler's right to make the film, and use freakin' Bosnian's as native Americans if he so chooses. I also respect the rights of native actors walking away from something which makes them feel uncomfortable.

Walking out is completely unprofessional.

I respect their right to do anything legal but I think they have disqualified themselves from working in show business.

I think show business can survive their loss from the profession.

Again, I think they should have either declined the jobs and/or done protests at screenings if the comedy stylings of Sandler were not to their approval.

Edited April 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[catweazle]

An estimated 112 million indians in north and south America were slaughtered by "the founding fathers"... and now they make a movie where native american indians are ridiculed???

Would like to see a film like that featuring Germans ridiculing jews, and the whole planet would be in outrage, parts of Germany would burn and jews worldwide would demand to see heads roll...

But with those indians, well let's do it, why not? We all know which religion is running the movie industry, so who wonders... America should be ashamed of its past, but instead is proud of it - sickens me to my stomach!

[Jingthing]

Oh boy. Blame it on the Jews. How predictable.

BTW ... yes the history was shameful but all ethnicities are subject to humorous treatments in modern America.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited April 25, 2015 by Jingthing

[attento]

This is the American movie industry, afterall.

It's all about entertainment, historical accuracy has scarcely ever been invovled.

The really sad thing is that so many movie viewers cannot tell the difference.