As part of Disneys Stories Matter initiatives advisory council, Robertson and his colleagues watch films believed to possibly be problematic and then tell Disney their reaction. One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. Is it inaccurate? ALADDIN: Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountain-now Aladdin is racist. did apparently meet with Galland at some point, but it remains unclear how much, if any, of the story came from him. While the majority of films and series that are added to Disney+ continue to be available, some titles, unfortunately, have been removed from Disney+. 6. You can also see our lesson plan on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. Most of the Arab characters have exaggerated facial characteristics hooked noses, glowering brows, thick lips but Aladdin and the princess look like white American teenagers. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. Original cartoon versions of movies such as Dumbo, The Jungle Book . The casting of Naomi Scott, who is of English and Indian descent, upset some fans and critics who believed the role should have been played by a Middle Eastern actress. 'Aladdin and the Magic Lamp' is the most famous story from the Arabian Nights collection of stories, also known as the 1,001 Nights.However, the story's origins are surprising, and in fact for many centuries it wasn't part of the Arabian Nights at all.But before we come to the question of textual analysis or the story's complex history, let's summarise the plot of the story of Aladdin. Yet, they and their media family, (like ESPN) are always the first in line seeking to cancel anything that remotely upsets them. Why or why not? The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. Aladdin was criticised for perpetuating Orientalist stereotypes of the Middle East and Asia (Credit: Alamy), Daniel Newman, professor of Arabic at Durham University, acknowledges that Western portrayals have come a long way from the lotus-eating, Orientalist fantasies of yesteryear, but barring a few exceptions, what has happened is that one clich has been replaced by another; from the scimitar-wielding lascivious Arab, we have gone to the bomb-wielding terrorist Arab. While some moderate characters have been introduced in shows such as Homeland, he says, the pervading feeling is one of threat, based primarily if not exclusively on religion., Id ask the animators to add benevolent market-vendors and heroic guards who befriend Aladdin, Shaheen said of the 1992 Aladdin, conscious of the image of Middle-Eastern people that might be made on the films young viewers. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. Aoki believes it should specifically note what the issue of each film is, rather than offering up an ambiguous line. Take a look at both sides of the argument: Watch the trailer for Aladdin, or see the movie in theaters now, and make your own conclusions. Disney also came under fire for allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew members. by But maybe thats the issue that Disney and other major corporations cant seem to understand. Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. What? Aladdin film poster comparison. After Mr. Bollywood is an entire industry made up of talents like this and the Middle East has equally as much talent. Most of the Arab characters have exaggerated facial characteristics hooked noses, glowering brows, thick lips but Aladdin and the princess look like white American teenagers. Delivered Wednesdays. He's a young Middle Eastern man and a homeless orphan that . All rights reserved. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. It can also be argued that outrage about Naomi Scott is invalid, given the. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The only question is how to best address this. It might be worth asking ourselves when the new film is released: what would Jack Shaheen think? The song Arabian Nights, which initially referred to Agrabah as a place where they cut off your ear if they dont like your face/its barbaric, but hey, its home, has altered lyrics. that Disney should stop trying to improve stories that are problematic and should leave them in the past, instead focusing on new stories that wont be tainted by previously offensive versions. Cookie Notice Background characters. The Disney drama kicked into higher gear after we saw Dr. Seuss books go from being $5 to $500. First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. Disney have not commented on the search, and although it has been suggested that the lengthy casting process is due to the studio's commitment to finding the right actors, some are critical of the studios struggle. At that time, it simply noted, "This program is presented as originally created. There wasnt so much a backlash for Apu, Rather a shitty Asian comic realised he would get some media attention by claiming it to be racist.Now Asians are out of a character that was a representation of their culture at the start of the simpsons show. Disney claimed they included white extras only in a handful of instances when it was a matter of specialty skills, safety and control, but many still criticized the company for not taking the opportunity to hire more actors and crew members of Middle Eastern and South Asian heritage. Disney+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, Several representatives of minority advocacy groups spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about their reactions to the Disney+ disclaimer for films such as 1967's 'The Jungle Book' and 1953's 'Peter Pan. New foreign series, such as Jinn, available now on Netflix, may also rely on fantasy or folk culture, but they provide authentic place settings and use local talent and perspectives. There are now more opportunities for people in the United States, and elsewhere, to access regionally-produced entertainment from the Middle East. Non-Christian religions, the countries and . The film and its creators refused to do the work of normalizing and humanizing people of color for American audiences. Disney films have been a mainstay in many people's childhoods for generations, but some elements of them don't hold up today. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." Abby Monteil. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. An adamant defender of The Last Jedi and the series finale of Lost, he can be reached at [email protected] or through his Twitter, @SamMgelman. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. Instead of simply being upset with her father for restricting who she can marry as in the 1992 version Jasmine aspires to be the first female sultan and is frustrated by her fathers refusal to consider her because of her gender. This thread is archived 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins big at SAG Awards, HBO's "Succession" will end with season 4, creator says, Richard Belzer, comedian and "Law & Order: SVU" actor, dies at 78, "The Last of Us" creator Neil Druckmann on the series' success, Ryan Seacrest leaving "Live"; Kelly Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos, to step in. It feels sincere, and its also good business., In November 2019, when Disney launched its Disney+ streaming service, the company added content warnings ahead of its animated classics Dumbo (1941), The Jungle Book (1967) and Aladdin (1992) to warn audiences that the movies may contain outdated cultural depictions.. The film remains controversial to this day. Iconic film critic, Roger Ebert, wrote in his 1992 review: One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. We can therefore assume that Genie only focused on making Aladdin a prince so that he could have a shot with Jasmine. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. 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The line you're thinking of is "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. CBS News has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. Warner Brothers has included these on a number of older cartoons, rather than erase the cartoons or remove them from circulation or the like, and Disney now appears to be following suit with some of their older work. Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. If anything it highlighted overcoming a class struggle but I guess Marxism has mutated to race and gender now. Heres a version of that warning, which is notably more in-depth than the one-sentence warning that Disney has implemented. After Mr. But, a completely white cast voiced the film, and the association of Arabs with violence, greed and other negative traits suggested that Hollywood was insensitive at best and xenophobic at worst. And welcomed. Nobody in their right mind can state that it is impossible to find a young male South Asian or Middle-Eastern actor who can dance, sing and act, says Academy Award nominated director Lexi Alexander, who is half German, half Palestinian. What can you do to be more aware of cultural insensitivity and misrepresentation in pop culture? It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. Hang tough However, when Aladdin points this out, the Genie insists Aladdin cannot have any more free wishes: GENIE: (Still as stewardess) Thank you for choosing Magic Carpet for all your travel needs. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Jungle Bookreceived a disclaimer, yet its 2003 animated sequel did not. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. Theyre unqualified, and its time for minorities in this country to start ignoring these major corporations that stunt double as our parents. Other companies and brands, likeAunt Jemimaand Uncle Ben's, have also recently taken steps to recognize and distance themselves from racist stereotypes by changing their branding in the wake of widespread protests for racial justice in the U.S. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. 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Disney holds monthly meetings to determine what content in its archive needs to have a warning added. Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. But now Disney is offended by its own creation, so it slaps a warning on Aladdin. Please review Rule 4 and this post before making a top level comment: I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Yes, Skorodin says. For more information, please see our Thus, when Disney reported in 2016 that a live-action adaptation was in the works, director Guy Ritchie had to contend with the original films controversial legacy. While the movie is set in a city based on Baghdad, Iraq, Aladdin contains aspects of multiple Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. No one thats who. KEEP READING:Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Ditch Disney plus there. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. Edit: forgot to write "answer", so i copypasted my original vomment. TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." Its a convenient system that insists actors-of-colour need to be household names to be cast, while nobody wants to give them a break. Alexander posted a list of potential actors on Twitter, asking Guy to give me a call., The well-loved soundtrack for the 1992 animation is actually an edited version of the one that was heard in cinemas (Credit: Alamy). 3. This applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. Privacy Policy. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. In updating the film and its content, from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, an LA advocacy group, as well as groups comprised of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslim scholars, activists, and creatives. Due to the advisory groups input, the film avoided the crude portrayals found. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. Disney is the only media outlet who can show Aladdin. Besides from what I vaguely remember about Aladdin was he was a poor theif (or street rat for the non PC types) who befriended an enslaved genie and found a magic carpet ride in order to overcome evil Jafar, win the affection of a bra wearing princess, and became the king of Arabia or something. Gary Sheffield, Jr On " Fixer to Fabulous ," Dave and Jenny Marrs have been doing many remarkable remodels around Bentonville, AR but that's not to say we agree with all of their design . Providing warning labels to minorities like myself does nothing to protect or encourage us in society. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. In updating the film and its content, Disney sought advice from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, an LA advocacy group, as well as groups comprised of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslim scholars, activists, and creatives. Due to the advisory groups input, the film avoided the crude portrayals found in the 1992 movie. ", clearly implying it's cutting off the hand. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. This isnt the first time that Disney has been criticised in relation to Aladdin. At the end of the overview, you can also find resources section for further exploration in the classroom. Mar 1, 2023. It actually proves how desperate the Neo-Marxists movement is becoming; they cannot win an open, honest debate; they must invoke feelings of collective anger and mistrust to win short term victories. She covers film and TV news and reviews. 1. The live-action reveal is a bit of a surprise. The Aristocats, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and more now have stronger content warnings. He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Others defended Scott, noting that the story includes Indian aspects, Agrabah is meant to be a melting pot of cultures, and Jasmines mother is said to be from another land, making it entirely plausible that Jasmine could be an Indian woman. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Instead of simply being upset with her father for restricting who she can marry as in the 1992 version Jasmine aspires to be the first female sultan and is frustrated by her fathers refusal to consider her because of her gender. Aladdin is one of them. The new content warning, appearing on screen before the movie starts. But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. Since Disney Plus launched last November, experts have criticized the soft language used in its disclaimer on older titles like 1941's Dumbo, that warned films "may contain outdated cultural depictions.". All Rights Reserved. This was inevitable. Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. It might also have to do with some version of whitewashing, as most of the voice actors are white people? It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. While the true origins of the tale of Aladdin cannot be completely verified, the story is often attributed to French writer Antoine Galland, who claimed a Syrian told him about a boy and a genie in China. Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. You can also see. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to ourFacebookpage or message us onTwitter. For more, Xbox Game Pass Is Having its Best Stretch Ever, Attack on Titan Fans Are Desperately Searching for The Final Season Part 3's First Episode Online, The Flash: The Arrowverse's Red Death Isn't Who We Thought, $30 Million Worth of Funko Products are Being Sent to a Landfill, Atomic Heart Faces Backlash on Multiple Fronts, all the movies and shows on or coming soon to Disney Plus, The Simpsons Hit and Run Designer Wants to See a Remake - IGN Daily Fix. They want to make up for any offensive messaging they may have been a part of, Robertson told the publication. But it's not as innocent as it seems. These animated films teach us so much, and especially young kids, Ghanizada says. I cant wait until Disney finally puts a warning label on their films portraying marriage like the fantasy that its never been. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. , Aladdin sport[ed] a Manchurian queue and Chinese slippers, and the architecture feature[ed] distinctly Chinese pagodas. The emphasis on the Chinese aspects of, during this time period through the use of , (the imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art) was especially popular. How do you feel about Aladdin? How is your familys culture represented in film, television or literature? for Aladdin, or see the movie in theaters now, and make your own conclusions. This week saw the death of Dr Jack Shaheen, one of the most respected and loudest critics of the vilification of Arabs in Hollywood, who successfully campaigned for offensive lyrics to be changed in the original Aladdin soundtrack. Yeah, probably not because that message doesnt help them pander. Why does Aladdin have a warning now? The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. 7. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. Whether the new film-makers choose to stand in the old guard or vanguard remains to be seen. The Middle East has a robust entertainment industry and creative voices in the region regularly share their stories through film, television, music and other media forms. It is also important to think about all the improvements the 2019 movie made over the 1992 adaptation (see #3 on this list above!). We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. Why is it important to have culturally-accurate depictions in film and television? Credit: Outnow/Alamy.
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