First, the Jews; Now Gibson Angers the Maya

IMDB.com ^ | 7 December 2006

[paudio]

Some descendants of the Maya tribes depicted in Mel Gibson's Apocalypto have denounced the movie as racist and not representative of their ancient culture. In an interview with Reuters, Ignacio Ochoa, director of the Nahual Foundation, said, "Gibson replays, in glorious big budget Technicolor, an offensive and racist notion that Maya people were brutal to one another long before the arrival of Europeans and thus they deserved, in fact, needed, rescue." Lucio Yaxon, described by Reuters as a 23-year-old Mayan human rights activist, added, "Basically, the director is saying the Mayans are savages." Today's (Thursday) Los Angeles Times noted that archaeologist Richard Hansen was on hand throughout the shooting of the film, lending his advice to the production team. Production designer Tom Sanders told the newspaper, "It was really fun to say [to Hansen], 'Is there any proof they didn't do this?' When he said, 'There is no proof they didn't do that, ' that gives you some license to play."

[TigersEye]

Yeahhhh, but can he weave a hammock or make sandals out of saw grass? ;^P

[paudio]

Ecological deterministic refers to the idea that the culture, etc. of a society is determined by the ecological condition of the location.

[Bernard Marx]

That's an interesting notion that reminds me of the old nature vs. nurture argument. JMO but both play important roles, based on my observations for many years.

Certainly people who live near the water learn to make rafts and boats, and those in cold climates have to learn how to make warm clothes and shelters. But the kinds of boats, clothes and shelters seem to me to be the result of individual choice and ingenuity. The Lapp reindeer herders of northern Norway, for instance, share certain similarities with Siberian reindeer herders (sauna = sweat lodge) but their cultures are entirely different.

[N. Theknow]

What does Maya Angelou have against the movie?

Is it like her poetry? No rhyme or reason?

[bvw]

But you can dream, obviously!

[ViLaLuz]

"The Mayan's WERE savages. They loved human sacrifice, especially children."

Wow! Just like Planned Parenthood!

[Marysecretary]

Exactly. And isn't that sad????