The Movie Moana Of The Polynesian Culture

Society is built of many different cultures which is used to identify a person with their customs, moral beliefs, and behavioral patterns. Culture is a significant root to society. Traditions that are passed down from generations to generations is accustomed from Cultures. The accuracy of Disney’s animated movie Moana of the Polynesian culture and traditions was extensively research by John Musker and Ron Clements throughout the native tribes in Polynesia, which displays throughout the movie on its accuracy on fine details such as character design, songs/dances, prints, resource gathering, and many more examples. Disney effectively uses rhetorical appeals of doxa, logos, kairos, and pathos that provides their audience knowledge on the Polynesian

culture.
Disney presents Doxa in the movie Moana by focusing on Polynesian values.

Polynesians are known for the colonization of the Pacific Islands through voyaging and wayfinding. Canoes were built to go across the larges ocean on earth and battle the winds and currents. In the movie Disney displays doxa, the Polynesian value and tradition of Moana’s ancestors wayfinding throughout the song “We know the way” and presenting Moana’s journey as a voyager and way finder. Moana becomes a chief in the movie but Polynesian cultures do not believe in women becoming chief but Disney practices the Polynesian tradition and value of passing their tittle down to their first born who is ready to lead a kingdom. Other Doxa examples are displayed in the movie such as the way pacific islanders cook their meals in pits, how the character is presented in a mix of cultures by their appearance, Samoan headdress, Tongan traditional clothing together with Hawaiian dancing, Tokelau lyrics and Tahitian drumming. In the movie Moana’s home is on the island of Motunui, Motunui provides resources like fish and plants so the characters are expected to not go beyond the reef, in resemblance of Polynesia, Tetiaroa atoll is uses as a reference point as an island that is an enclosed lagoon. Values that are passed down from generations to generations are used in the movie when Moana’s grandmother is shown as a mentor to connect Moana to ancient traditions, this is a great example of Kairos and Doxa. Furthermore, Moana practices the way Polynesians treat their elders by respecting and honoring her

grandmother.
Disney uses logos by doing research on Polynesian culture before and upon the creation of Moana. Kairos appears in Disney’s Moana by displaying the history of the Polynesian Cultures. In the beginning of the movie, it starts off with chanting and a tribal tale which is a way of talking to the Gods and keeping ancestors in mind. Also in the movie Moana, Moana has a pet pig named Pua and a pet rooster named Hei-Hei, this resembles the history of the first Polynesians brining both animals to the Pacific Islands. Additionally, Disney demonstrates Kakamora the coconuts as pirates of the ocean who are aggressive towards receiving what they desire. The background and culture roots of Kakamora is similar to a Menehune, a short statured legendary of the Solomon Islands. Another symbol of kairos is the form and creation of traditional body tattoo. Polynesian history behind their tattoos and tribal is a representation of accomplishments and their family history, in the movie Maui is covered in tattoos that resembles his accomplishments and his family history, also in the movie a character was getting a tattoo the traditional style with a wooden hammer and a sterilize shark tooth. Furthermore, the storyline of the demigod Maui was created through the history of multiple versions of a myth that came from numerous places in the Pacific. Maui the demigod raises islands out of the sea and slows down the sun in the movie along with Polynesian stories and rituals.
Disney applies Pathos by developing a connection with the audience through a typical stereotype. Americans see Polynesians as dark skin and huge muscular people, in the movie the character Maui appears brown and obese but according to Logos and Kairos, Maui is symbolized as a person of strength. Disney also presents pathos by presenting a mixture of different Polynesian cultural music.
Moana was a strong unconquerable character which was an example of the Polynesian culture being strong, dedicated to sacrifices that mean success. Polynesian culture rituals are still being practiced and thriving till today. Disney effectively uses rhetorical appeals of doxa, logos, kairos, and pathos that provides their audience knowledge on the Polynesian culture.