History of Media

Curious Events in History of Third World Actors Portraying Third World Characters

Abstract:

Ever since I read about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the 1800‘s one curiosity has never been resolved. In its main action sequence ‘The Battle of the Little BigHorn’ it utilized not only real Indians, but the real Indians that killed Col. Custard. Certainly this was a crowd pleaser, but what was it for the Indians? Was it a chance to tell their tale to the white-man, playing producer director and screen writer? Or was it just another role, like the Caucasian villains who easily ham it up for the camera?

Since then, in cinema there have been more examples of simple people whose lives are without the daily contact with the technology that works in their favor, yet used as actors (mostly playing themselves) in mainline cinema. From Robert J. Flaherty’s use of a native Eskimo in “Nanook of the North” in the early days of cinema to the use or movie “Quigley Down Under” we are provided with many interesting events.

Nanook of the North is played by a native Eskimo of the same name who was found by Robert J. Flaherty. This movie is somewhat documentary in tone, where we see the daily exciting events of this northern native American. We see Nanook’s reaction to new technology, as well as the peril he finds as he tries to kill a walrus without the aid of the rifles his culture is already accustomed to. This provides us with a look at the dubious attempt at cinematic honesty who’s validity is reinforced with a actor playing themselves.

Simon Wincer’s “Quigley Down Under” utilized 300 Aborigines in the supporting cast and as extras. They played the role of their ancestors, hunted down in 1860‘s Australia to make room for cattle. Their role was light on the spiritual mysticism but heavy in irony and sympathy. In the curious events, the hero’s early advance on the villains is stopped by a westernized Aborigine butler. In an attempt to make a political statement, we witness a simple irony in aboriginal relations.

One of the most curious has to be the use of native South African N!Xau who never really had any exposure to technology before he was discovered and set as a star in an American Movie that has been seen by millions of Americans. The smash hit movie “The Gods Must be Crazy” was about a bush-man who has his first experience with western culture when a Coke Bottle falls from the sky. To be the hero in the movie, he dawns the clothes of a western civilization to sneak in to the camp of the villains, and rescues everyone.

Later, his part is reprieved in a Hong Kong production Directed by Billy Chan where the bush-man’s first encounter with eastern civilization is when a Chinese Zombie falls from the sky. He is the tribes salvation when the same Taoist priest that created the vampire channels Bruce Lee’s spirit into him, and he defeats the competing tribe in physical combat. With a grain of salt, we can take this episode with a bit of East vs West comparison.

More than scenery these actors portrayed a human element we could identify with. Acting as themselves they bring a genuine authority to the stories played on the screen. Certainly as we cast our Eastern and Western Colonial gazes on these people one wonders what them must have seen in return.

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