The movie whale rider dives into the story of the girl Paikea and the trails she and community must overcome about their traditional heritage and culture. This essay will discuss and explore the theme of how traditional cultural heritage can conflict and clash with the demands of modern life, we will consider 3 key points: how women are treated and looked at in the community, how Koro refuses to adapt from his traditional thinking and how Nanny Flowers has to deal with and continue fighting the issues of both modern and traditional life. With the evidence gathered from this film, fascinating points are made and show us how we must hold on to our culture, but also learn to adapt to the ever-changing modern world. In traditional Polynesian
…show more content…
When she asks her father “Why doesn’t [Koro] want me?” her father replies that “He’s looking for something that doesn’t exist,” (referring to her dead twin brother). When talking to Paikea’s father, Koro tells him to “Take her, she’s no use to me,” Why does Koro feel so much hatred towards Paikea, what has she ever done? The only reason that could possibly be why is that Koro wants a male chief (explained by Porourangi), who is exactly what Paikea isn’t. Paikea has every right to be the chief, she is a descendant of the whale rider after all, but since she has a different gender she has decreased in importance and of value in Koro’s mind. She’s proved countless times that she is more than capable for the role. She shows heavy signs of strength, when able to beat Hemi with the taiha. When Koro gets frustrated from the motor on the boat failing to start, Paikea takes the initiative and with her quick thinking, she uses the rope to get the motor started. When Koro sees this, instead of being proud of Paikea and happy that the motor has finally started, he fills with anger at how Paikea has the audacity to start the motor on her own and tells her “It’s dangerous,” - much to Paikea’s disappointment. When Koro throws his whale tooth …show more content…
Not to mention how Paikea wins 2 awards at the concert, despite all the qualities she possesses, Koro still continues to look past her potential for what she seems to be from the outside! The modern world teaching shows how every gender and race is equal in life by including female leads in movies, having campaigns to help women in need and seeing women in a vast variety of careers, which is a big contrast to Koro’s mentality. When Paikea sits in front of the class, he tells her to go to the back because she’s a girl, telling her “You’re a girl, go to the back.” Paikea refuses to move. Koro replies by being aggressive: “What did I say? Then leave. Go on.”. Girls are also shown to be looked down upon since Nanny Flowers is always seen doing household jobs and being in the kitchen, and when Koro breaks the dish on the ground he tells Nanny Flowers to let the girl clean it up, which is also a subtle display of sexism towards women as well as anger towards Paikea even though she apologised. Towards the start of the film, Koro just refuses to let the idea of
When she asks her father “Why doesn’t [Koro] want me?” her father replies that “He’s looking for something that doesn’t exist,” (referring to her dead twin brother). When talking to Paikea’s father, Koro tells him to “Take her, she’s no use to me,” Why does Koro feel so much hatred towards Paikea, what has she ever done? The only reason that could possibly be why is that Koro wants a male chief (explained by Porourangi), who is exactly what Paikea isn’t. Paikea has every right to be the chief, she is a descendant of the whale rider after all, but since she has a different gender she has decreased in importance and of value in Koro’s mind. She’s proved countless times that she is more than capable for the role. She shows heavy signs of strength, when able to beat Hemi with the taiha. When Koro gets frustrated from the motor on the boat failing to start, Paikea takes the initiative and with her quick thinking, she uses the rope to get the motor started. When Koro sees this, instead of being proud of Paikea and happy that the motor has finally started, he fills with anger at how Paikea has the audacity to start the motor on her own and tells her “It’s dangerous,” - much to Paikea’s disappointment. When Koro throws his whale tooth …show more content…
Not to mention how Paikea wins 2 awards at the concert, despite all the qualities she possesses, Koro still continues to look past her potential for what she seems to be from the outside! The modern world teaching shows how every gender and race is equal in life by including female leads in movies, having campaigns to help women in need and seeing women in a vast variety of careers, which is a big contrast to Koro’s mentality. When Paikea sits in front of the class, he tells her to go to the back because she’s a girl, telling her “You’re a girl, go to the back.” Paikea refuses to move. Koro replies by being aggressive: “What did I say? Then leave. Go on.”. Girls are also shown to be looked down upon since Nanny Flowers is always seen doing household jobs and being in the kitchen, and when Koro breaks the dish on the ground he tells Nanny Flowers to let the girl clean it up, which is also a subtle display of sexism towards women as well as anger towards Paikea even though she apologised. Towards the start of the film, Koro just refuses to let the idea of