In order to examine the radical shift that has taken place in the last few decades in our perception of cultural domination, let us take some examples from a familiar source. Take a look at my recent review for Cotton Mary for a brief discussion of the identity crisis this has caused in India since 1949. Mowgli does not belong in this world, according to the characters, and so they return him to the Man Village. Clearly a market existed for native culture. Spurious history at best, this story of thwarted love proved only moderately successful at the box office.
Little attempt is made to assimilate the two cultures.
Both cultures are allowed to occupy subject-positions in the film, by virtue of the analogous development of the characters of Pocahontas and John Smith. But this more ethical ending, which values the differences of both cultures, really hides a darker truth. The European settlers quickly assimilated the Powhatans. Certainly not the first sacrifice at the altar of colonial assimilation. Nor the last.