Yellowstone is a popular modern western
series featuring the fictional Dutton family as they attempt to keep their
Yellowstone Ranch from developers, Native Americans, environmentalists, etc. The
series is featured on the Paramount channel which is owned by CBS. Given all
the wokeness that CBS has expressed in the past the viewer is assured that there
is no cultural appropriation is permitted, or not.
So, let’s look at the specifics of
Yellowstone:
·
Yellowstone is set in Montana and Wyoming adjacent
to the Yellowstone National Park but is filmed near Park City, Utah (somewhat like
Branson is to Missouri). The scenery is spectacular so most of us would not find
that piece of information objectionable, but I am sure some residents of the other
two states find this to be highly offensive.
·
The Dutton family is played by Kevin Costner (as
John, the widowed patriarch), Luke Grimes (as Kayce, the second son), and Kelly
Reilly (as Beth, the daughter). (Yes, I am leaving out Jamie, the adopted son
as played by Wes Bentley and the oldest son who was killed off in the first episode.)
Costner is no problem for CBS as he is the star. But the Kayce and Beth characters
should send up red flags of appropriation. Kayce Dutton was once a Navy Seal
but except for a role in the movie American Sniper, Luke Grimes has never, according
to my research, been a Seal. Beth Dutton is a profane foul- mouthed butt-kicker
but Kelly Reilly is form England. Could not the producers have discovered a
profane foul-mouthed butt-kicking American woman to play Beth? I bet many
American men could send them a list of potentials.
·
The Native American characterization in
Yellowstone is also confusing. Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater, the principal
chief of the local tribe, appears to be a winner. But, once again, there is a
problem. Birmingham is Comanche and Montana was not home to the Comanche Nation
and don’t you dare tell me that all Indians look alike! Kelsey Asbille as Monica
Dutton, Kayce’s wife, has also portrayed Native American women in both Yellowstone
and the movie Wind River. Yet again, CBS has a problem. Asbille’s father is
Chinese and although through her mother she claims to be a member of the
Eastern Band of Cherokees, the tribe has no record of her.
·
Then there are the ranch hands. Jefferson White
who portrays Jimmy Hurdstrom, the hard luck cowboy, was born in Iowa and lives
in Brooklyn. And Jen Landon as the foul-mouthed and barely understandable
Teeter is the daughter of the famed actor Michael Landon and grew up around
Hollywood royalty. For brevity’s sake’s I will not review the other cowboys.
The point of this exercise is although
a television series can be filled with cultural appropriations and
contradictions, it is good television because of one aspect- excellent acting. The
Yellowstone actors flesh out their characters giving them emotions, fears, irrationality
and complexity as cultures of progress and tradition collide on the Yellowstone
Ranch.
[PS-
Of course, these are instances of cultural misappropriation- Black Face and the
“N” word for sure, cultural themed parties, perhaps, and the “O” word, sometimes.
Think before doing. Be sensitive and situationally and culturally aware.]
I haven’t watched this show as I shy away from genre like this. I will trust your judgement about whether or not the acting is good.
ReplyDeleteAs for cultural appropriation or misappropriation, I have the opinion the term is used one sidedly. For instance if a White person has insinuated themselves in a culture other than their own it is labeled misappropriation but not the other way round. For example; Denzel Washington, a Black man, playing the role of MacBeth in Apple TV+ Originals eponymous MacBeth. I have yet read a critic decrying this. I think it is just because writers have hit a wall as to what is feasible to write about.
It does seem one-sided. My posting was partly satire to show this.
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