Drawing from both Walker and Rasamimanana and Dunn, address the following question: In what ways has the representation of Africa and Africans (and whites) remained relatively consistent from the 1930s and the 1983 version of Tarzan depicted in Greystoke? Provide examples.
The way the film, Greystoke represents Africa, Africans, and white individuals has remained relatively consistent to the 1930s in the way Africa is portrayed as unlivable to the white man because of the savagery the continent contains and how individuals who come from Africa are never able to fit the Western image of what it means to be civilized. According to Dunn (1996), a civilized individual is a white, upper-class persona who craves to be in control and comes to Africa …show more content…
Specifically, because of the white character’s failure to survive in Africa, Dunn (1996) explains how the continent is constantly portrayed as a nightmare to visit, and instead, staying at home is your best option (156). These repeating negative images of Africa (i.e. uncontrollable rain, wild animals, and savage tribes) allows the filmmakers to portray what they believe Africa represents: a continent filled with jungles where danger is hiding in every corner, serving as a “trap” (Dunn 1996, 156) to the foreigner (Greystoke 1983). It is hard to believe that an individual from Africa would describe their own home in these terms. Yet, unlivable conditions are still shown in Greystoke (1983) as the white individual’s boats and homes are immediately destroyed and only one white individual survives, Capitaine D 'Arnot, solely because he is saved by Tarzan. Dunn (1996) further explains how, similar to the 1930s, this “trap” (150) occurs because the savagery of Africa outweighs the knowledge and resources of the white man, killing them all, but
The way the film, Greystoke represents Africa, Africans, and white individuals has remained relatively consistent to the 1930s in the way Africa is portrayed as unlivable to the white man because of the savagery the continent contains and how individuals who come from Africa are never able to fit the Western image of what it means to be civilized. According to Dunn (1996), a civilized individual is a white, upper-class persona who craves to be in control and comes to Africa …show more content…
Specifically, because of the white character’s failure to survive in Africa, Dunn (1996) explains how the continent is constantly portrayed as a nightmare to visit, and instead, staying at home is your best option (156). These repeating negative images of Africa (i.e. uncontrollable rain, wild animals, and savage tribes) allows the filmmakers to portray what they believe Africa represents: a continent filled with jungles where danger is hiding in every corner, serving as a “trap” (Dunn 1996, 156) to the foreigner (Greystoke 1983). It is hard to believe that an individual from Africa would describe their own home in these terms. Yet, unlivable conditions are still shown in Greystoke (1983) as the white individual’s boats and homes are immediately destroyed and only one white individual survives, Capitaine D 'Arnot, solely because he is saved by Tarzan. Dunn (1996) further explains how, similar to the 1930s, this “trap” (150) occurs because the savagery of Africa outweighs the knowledge and resources of the white man, killing them all, but