I know we've reviewed this a bit in class, but after seeing "classic" movies like
Gidget and
South Pacific, I'm wondering exactly
why this idealistic image was created? Does the image of Hawaii as a perfect, pristine, paradise only exist in the United State? Or is Hawaii's "perfect" image something believed across all nations (such as China, Mexico, etc)? Does everyone across the world believe see Hawaii in this way? I haven't been to Hawaii since I was 8 or 9 and even then I remember it being perfect and ideal (but then again...I was 8). Does this idealistic and unreal image of Hawaii exist to bring romance and escapism into people's lives? Or is it simply a ploy to bring tourists to Hawaii? How was this image created? Did it start with movies and songs of the Pacific? Even when it's apparent that Hawaii isn't perfect (and no place is truly perfect)...people still associate Hawaii with idealistic perfection. Why is this? Even after taking this class and knowing a bit more about Hawaii...I still find myself dying to go visit and exist in the tropical paradise that is Hawaii. I can't shake it's "paradise" image. Why do you guys think?
Carlie -
ReplyDeleteThis notion of paradise isn't particular to Hawaii, but has been a blanket depiction of the islands of the Pacific since Cook first made contact in the late 18th century. Neo-classism was prevalent at this time, and the artists deployed with Cook from the British Royal Academy not only depicted the island landscapes as Edenic, but also fashioned the islanders after Greco-Roman gods and statuary. Since that time, although attitudes towards the islanders changed drastically to justify the missionary movement, the islands themselves have always been portrayed as paradise on earth, where men don't have to live by the sweat of their brow, but simply off the bounty of the land. Imagery of female islanders were often conflated with landscapes themselves, feminizing the land and visually inviting the colonial projects of the artists Occidental audience, starting with John Webber's portrait of the Tahitian Princess Poedua (1777) and leading up to modern dusky maiden velvet kitsch paintings (1970s) and contemporary renderings that serve touristic & Hollywood envisionings of capitalist enterprise.
- Trey