February 8, 2007

'Apocalypto' a distorted view of Maya history

Mel Gibson’s latest film, Apocalypto, tells a story set in pre-Columbian Central America, with the Mayan Empire in decline. Villagers who survived a savage attack are taken by their captors through the jungle to the central Mayan city. Among the villagers is Jaguar Paw, who has hidden his wife and child from the attackers with a promise that he will return for them. Although the film has been nominated for three Academy Awards — in makeup, sound editing and sound mixing — it has received mixed reviews from critics and scholars.

The following editorial was written by Mary Weismantel, professor of anthropology, and Cynthia Robin, associate professsor of anthropology. It originally appeared Dec. 17, 2006, in the Chicago Tribune.