The Positive and Negative Aspects of the Racial Portrayal of Japan in The Last Samurai Film - Research Paper Example

The Last Samurai This paper will analyze the role race played in The Last Samurai. A few topics on race will be discussed. One issue to be addressed will be the positive and negative aspects of the racial portrayal of Japan in this film. Stereotypes dealing with the race relations between Union soldiers and Native Americans and Americans and Japanese will also be explored. Were these relationships shown accurately, or did Hollywood political correctness guide the film. The American and Japanese governments’ treatment of minorities and different classes will be examined. Lastly the assertion by some movie critics that the film was racist because Captain Algren was shown as the “white saviour” to undecided Japanese will be scrutinized. Overall The Last Samurai portrays Japan and the Japanese in a noble light. Although according to the DVD extras the movie was filmed in New Zealand, the setting represented Japan during the late 1800’s. The Japanese characters were shown as individuals, instead of the normal Hollywood depiction of Japanese as all being the stereotypical aloof ninja or Buddhist pacifist. Even though The Last Samurai did not portray the typical Hollywood version of Japanese, the movie still had flaws because of the perceptions Americans have about Japan during the late 1800’s. An example is of the portrayal of the Samurais themselves. Katsumoto was shown to be a Samurai whose only wish was to perserve the Samurai way. Americans have long idealized Samurais as just warriors. In reality, Samurais were corrupt. That is why the Imperial Japanese army wanted to eradicate the samaurais, not because they wanted to modernize and forget Japanese history. Another stereotype is of Emperor Meiji. The Last Samurai portrayed the Emperor as ineffectual and weak, but in the end had the ultimate decision of modernizing his army and ending the Samurai way of life. Businessmen like Omura, the council, and even Captain Algren could sway Emperor Meiji. In reality, Emperor Meiji had little or no power for anyone to sway. He was basically a figurehead. However, the council shown in the film did not have power in the Japan during Emperor Meiji’s reign. The Samurais, and later the modernized Japanese army, ruled the country. The portrayal of Emperor Meiji is an American image of a Japanese emperor. Hollywood’s perceptions about race held a political correctness in this film. For instance Captain Algren’s remorse for the Native American Indians he slaughtered during his stint in the Union army. Firstly, if Captain Algren was sensitive about killing, he felt no remorse for his part in Gettysburg. It could be argued that the Confederate army was armed combatants, unlike Native Americans, but by the time of Gettysburg the Confederate army was running seriously low on weapons and supplies. When Captain Algren is not overly remorseful about killing Confederate soldiers, the message is the Confederate soldiers are equal to Union soldiers on a class level. On the other hand, when the Native Americans are shown as unarmed and helpless, The Last Samurai played into the biggest misconception American Indians. American Indians were not unarmed, but outgunned. This does not mean Native Americans are not as good as the Confederate soldier, or any less human. Custard’s last stand shows that Native Americans could not only fight as well as the Union army, but were equal warriors. The Union army just had more guns. Yet, The Last Samurai portrays Indians as less than equal to the white man. Another underlying issue of race and the Native American is the unrealistic and historically flawed compassion of Captain Algren. Americans during that period after the Civil War saw Native Americans as savages. They did not feel compassion for Native Americans, because to the white man Native Americans were not human. In The Last Samurai twenty-first century views of white men were filmed, not the historical views of race relations between white men and Native American Indians. Japan also has two classes in this film, the government Imperial army and the Samurais. Historically during this time, there were more than two classes, but these two classes were focused on in The Last Samurai. The Imperial army was made up of mostly untrained peasants and farmers. These men are shown to unable to take on the Samurai without the modernization of the Westernized help, more specifically guns. Once more, the white Westerner is shown to be superior. When Captain Algren, Sgt. Gant, and Colonel Bagley come to train the Imperial army, the message is the white man is more knowledgeable than the Japanese. That message leads to the erroneous inference that whites are more superior than Japanese. The modernization of the Imperial army was the gun factor. However, just because whites had the gun knowledge does not prove they were better than Japanese. The second class was the Samurai. The Samurai were shown as an older aristocratic class. These men were shown as graceful warriors. This class was shown as a desirable one to belong too. Being a Samurai meant honour and respect at one time until the two Japanese classes clashed. Then it suddenly became shameful to be a Samurai. The Samurai was emulated by Westerners. In The Last Samurai Captain Algren became so impressed by the Samurai class, he changed sides. The Samurai class was above Captain Algren’s position, but Captain Algren achieved Samurai status through training. In the end, Captain Algren rose above the Samurai status. Captain Algren not only becomes a Samurai, but makes the role of Samurai better. The example for this is when Captain Algren advises the Emperor, and the Emperor listened to the white man. This is an instance of Hollywood’s false theory a white man can overcome whatever society he is thrown in and make that society better. The two classes in Japan in this film loosely parallel the Native American and white class in America. The Samurai and Native Americans are both oppressed. Both of these classes are attacked by their governments wanting to control rebellions. Also the Samurai and Native Americans are portrayed as the guardians of an older way of life that hungry businessmen want to destroy. The two governmental classes are seen as heavy handed and war happy. Both governments need an intervention to see the error of their ways according to The Last Samurai. The American and Japanese treat their so called second class citizens the similar in The Last Samurai. The American government massacred innocent Native Americans, not for their land, but for fear. The white population of America at the time was scared of Indians because of their differences. Propaganda by the government and word of mouth told of the savages coming to snatch babies and scalp the adults. If the white Americans would have seen the Native Americans as humans instead of savages, there would have been no fear. Without fear, the massacres would not have happened. If The Last Samurai would have portrayed the Native Americans as real, Captain Algren’s actions would have been different. Instead of having an alcoholic remorse over killing Native Americans, Captain Algren would have tried to help the Native Americans because he would see them as human, not savages. However that movie had already been made, so The Last Samurai had to be made differently. The same fear that the Americans had toward the Native Americans in this film, the Imperial army had toward the Samurai. The differences between the Samurai and the Imperial government are lifestyle and class, not of race per se. The fear extends both ways. The Samurai are afraid the ancient ways will be lost and forgotten if the Imperial government has their way. The Imperial government is scared of being left behind in a modern world. The Imperial government’s fear caused retaliatory incidents like when Nobutada has his top knot of hair clipped by the Imperial police. By taking way the identifying mark of the Samurai, his hair, the Imperial government is trying to make the Samurai conform forcibly. Unlike the Native Americans who cannot conform because of race, the Samurai being of the same race as the Imperial government, only a different class can conform. If the Samurai conform, then Japan will become modern according to the Imperial government. The Last Samurai last issue on race is the most extensive one, the role of Captain Algren through out the movie. The role of a white man in a Japanese movie dealing with Japanese history is a little condescending. The idea of giving a white character a central role in Japanese history gives the impression that without Westerners or whites, Japan could not have become the modern country of today. The whole concept portrays Japanese as incapable without a direct Western influence. While some events have been influenced by Western ideals, Japan is a country that is uniquely its own. Another aspect of this movie that is disturbing comes when Captain Algren does not just become a Samurai, but becomes the best Samurai. The message is that whites can become better than natives. This concept smacks of colonialism. Whites can come and conquer, making countries better for them and the natives. Instead of learning and becoming an equal Samurai, Captain Algren was to become “The Last Samurai”. (In the DVD credits, the director admits this was intent, but too controversial.) Instead of adding the controversial ending, The Last Samurai leaves it to the view to decide who is “The Last Samurai” Captain Algren or Katsumoto. Another ideal smacking of colonialism is Captain Algren’s influence on Emperor Meiji. When Captain Algren advises the Emperor to reject the Americans offer, the Emperor listens to this American instead of his trusted advisors. The white saviour helping out the uneducated, hapless, and weak native is portrayed. White supremacy is shown subtly through film. In The Last Samurai by portraying Captain Algren as the saviour of the Japanese people the director did not mean to send the message of white supremacy. The director, Edward Zwick, made the typical Hollywood movie. A perfect historical Hollywood movie has several traits. The first is the helpless minority population, the Japanese and Native Americans in this case. The second is the remorseful white person for the injustices against the minorities, Captain Algren. Thirdly a bad white person, Colonel Bagley is required to make the film realistic. With these components, the remorseful white person kills the bad white person and takes up for the minorities. This is an attempt by Hollywood to have whites apologize to minorities. There is only one problem with the apology Hollywood makes with the white redeemer and the helpless minorities; it is insulting to both races. Minorities are not helpless. Each race has their attributes. Whites are not always the saviour or hero. The Last Samurai was scripted after the perfect Hollywood script. If Hollywood were ran differently, maybe portraying historical events in a more truthful way would be popular. However, Hollywood has never been truthful; being truthful is not profitable. Hollywood should portray different races truthfully. If this could be accomplished, similarities could be shown between races and the fear would be dispelled. Without the fear, people could get along and understand other races better. The Last Samurai made a good Hollywood film. Yet, this film portrayed race relations in a typical Hollywood way. The races of this film were stereotypical. Instead of focusing on the special attributes of each character, this movie lumped characters into different racial groups. This film did not handle race relations realistically. If someone wanted to see a blockbuster film for entertainment, this film is recommended. For a historical film, this movie fell short and would not be recommended. References The Last Samurai. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perf. Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Masato Harada, Koyuki, and Hiroyuki Sanada. Warner Bros., 2003. “The Last Samurai.” Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. 2006. Wikipedia. 28 July 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Samurai Sailer, Steve. “The Last Samurai.” 15 Dec. 2003. The American Conservative. 31 July 2006 http://www.isteve.com/Film_Last%20Samurai.htm Read More