Caribbean Pirates Research Paper

When many people reflect on their basic knowledge of Caribbean pirates, they tend to describe their observations based solely off modern pop culture’s depiction of them. Present day society depicts pirates as humorous burglars who take on quests while enjoying treasures and glory, even popular films such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ strive to exhibit piracy in the same manner in pop culture. Although this is a common stereotype society wishes were historically correct, unfortunately, this portrayal is far from one-hundred percent truthful.

In this essay, I will argue that various modern films and forms of media that focus on the early seventeenth century, depict a humorous and historically inaccurate portrayal of pirates to modern day society.

(These are some primary sources from popular films/television). Thereupon, I would start to deliver my arguments about why these modern portrayals are inaccurate, by providing secondary sources that administer similar arguments to mine. My secondary sources will include scholarly-peer reviewed articles from the university’s library databases. My first argument will discuss how books over the years characterize pirates, and how Caribbean pirates should truthfully be described in books, based off many historical events. My argument will be supported by a secondary source from a scholar known as Alexandria Philips. Phillips has a similar argument to mine, from her scholarly journal entitled, “The Changing Portrayal of Pirates in Children’s Literature.” My next argument will discuss how pop culture fails to discuss gender roles (primarily women), and how pop culture portrays women of color inside a pirate’s world in films. More specifically Disney’s character Tia Dalma in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. My supportive source is a scholarly journal entitled, “Disney 's Tia Dalma: A Critical Interrogation of an "Imagineered" Priestess”, written by Kameelah Martin Samuel. My final argument will describe real pirate mannerisms during that period. To show how society views fake pirate’s mannerisms in pop culture, I will be using scholar Shannon Lee Dowdy’s journal article entitled, “Towards a General Theory of Piracy”, co-written by Joe Bonni, supporting my claims with similar evidence found within the article. Many people believe pirates were filth and nothing more than thieves and drunks, I will argue that pirates had values, and took their jobs seriously, they