All Rights Reserved. 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. The film and its creators refused to do the work of normalizing and humanizing people of color for American audiences. After Mr. 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. 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. Answer: Well I don't know which version they are showing, but in the origubal the salesman in the beginning sings that in the east they cut off your tongue and ears or something in that fashion when they catch you stealing, which is considered stereotyping. Pray tell who is offended by Aladdin? It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. You are agreeing to OutKick's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, but don't worry we don't spam. While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. Similarly, The Jungle Book has been criticized for employing some African/African-American racial stereotypes to depict a group of monkeys, even going so far as to have another character call them mangy and flea-picking, among other problematic elements. The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a press release earlier this week asking reviewers and critics to acknowledge that the "Aladdin myth is rooted by racism, Orientalism and. We talked to people at Disney about that depiction I said there are probably a hundred [Native] people of that caliber that can do that and yet youre going to try and force Johnny Depp down our throat, says Skyhawk. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. And overdue., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Boycott threatened over transgender inclusion in Hersheys Womans Day promo, Twitch star zaps herself with shock collar live for 1 million fans, gets banned, JK Rowling showing outstanding moral courage as she stands up to vile woke mob, Artist behind Obamas Hope poster, Shepard Fairey, slams cancel culture. Answer: A lot of older movies (god I hate calling movies from the 90's "older") include often passive stereotypes or themes about minority groups that while may not have been intentionally harmful, still perpetuate potentially harmful or offensive ideas about a culture or location. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. The controversy over Disney's new Aladdin remake, explained - Vox There are now more opportunities for people in the United States, and elsewhere, to access regionally-produced entertainment from the Middle East. ", clearly implying it's cutting off the hand. ORIGINAL STORY: Disney Plus is officially out in the wild now, and while it features a ton of new movies and shows like The Mandalorian, a Lady and the Tramp remake, and Jeff Goldblum, users are noticing that some older content is coming with an outdated cultural depictions warning. What is the hidden message in Aladdin? - Sage-Advices By casting actors of different nationalities and ethnic groups, the movie was able to showcase a wide range of cultures, giving a platform to voices traditionally omitted in Hollywood. He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. 7. Disney+ Updates Offensive Content Disclaimer for Aladdin, Peter - CBR In the examples below, the, With the advent of the Hollywood film industry, the story returned to its fabled Middle Eastern origins, replete with exotic and exaggerated stereotypes note the poster for a. and the story itself argue that the tale of Aladdin is inherently racist and Orientalist, and, regardless of the setting, is simply a colonial European view of the exotic East. Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. A Syrian named Hanna Diyab did apparently meet with Galland at some point, but it remains unclear how much, if any, of the story came from him. The sultan's palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. He also asked the producers to respect Islam and to add a humane character, Aladdins mother, an Arab woman willing to sacrifice everything for her sons happiness.. 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. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. All I can say is, like lightning, beware of the cancel culture mob-you are sharp with a mind of your own and as you become better known I am afraid you will become a target. I know that they would be very disappointed that there is not even a disclaimer to acknowledge that there are some questionable things in that film.. A content advisory notice for racism in classic Disney films, in place since last year, has been updated with a strengthened message. Read about our approach to external linking. The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. "Our job is. Delivered Wednesdays. Ian Skorodin, director of strategy and outreach for the Barcid Foundation (a Native American non-profit organization), adds that it is unfortunate thatPocahontas did not receive a disclaimer. How Disney decides which content gets 'offensive' disclaimer It is also important to think about all the improvements the 2019 movie made over the 1992 adaptation (see #3 on this list above!). The problems in Alladin specifically, I believe, are that an Arabic accent was used only for the villain, songs had racist lyrics, and there were very inaccurate and stereotyped portrayals of the entire setting/region. However, the outbreak of the first Gulf War (a conflict involving Iraqs invasion of neighboring Kuwait) in the early 1990s prompted the directors to set the story in the fictional city of Agrabah, an adaptation of Baghdad. Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. It may contain outdated cultural depictions" accompany the description of each relevant film on the menu page. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. The Aladdin controversy Disney can't escape - BBC Culture TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." In Disney's telling of the story, Aladdin is clever, resourceful, and loyal, but underestimated because he is poor. As a matter of fact, it only makes us feel like we should start becoming filmmakers and replace those who have anointed themselves as our leaders. Authenticity was not a major consideration. He's a young Middle Eastern man and a homeless orphan that . 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. CBS News has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. The decision to attach this message to some animated films was met with both praise from people who viewed it as an accountability measure and criticism from those who thought its wording was. 1. Some were alarmed by the films stereotypes and generalizations about Arabs and the Middle East. This was inevitable. Why Does 'Fixer to Fabulous' Star Jenny Marrs Hate This One Feature So Not only does Aladdin have a chance to lift a generation of actors from being type-cast as terrorists to the ranks of famous actors, but it also awakens a curiosity among audiences toward the. Outrage flared again when Disney announced that they had cast white actor Billy Magnussen in a newly-created role of a Scandinavian prince vying for Jasmines attention. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? 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. 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. 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. Aladdin: 15 Best Genie Quotes - ScreenRant 3. Disney's Aladdin Is Racist - Affinity Magazine Bollywood is an entire industry made up of talents like this and the Middle East has equally as much talent. a port city that rests on the cusp of Eastern and Western nations, making it a thriving trade town and bringing together a melting pot of cultures and influences. The production designer used Turkish, Persian, and Islamic influences for the set design. 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. Mena Massoud, who plays Aladdin, was born in Cairo, Naomi Scott (Jasmine) is of Anglo-Indian descent, Numan Acar (Hakim) is Turkish, and Nasim Pedrad (Dalia) and Navid Negahban (The Sultan) are Iranian. Whether he is giving out comedic moments or being incredibly sincere, he is a perfect character. The company said that while. I am cynical by nature. And yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. Given that is fictional, whos to say it cant include many different races and ethnic backgrounds? The well-loved soundtrack for the 1992 animation - A Whole New World notably won Disney an Academy Award, along with another Oscar for the entire score - is actually an edited version of the one that was heard in cinemas. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. As mentioned above, the original, one of many films released as part of the, Here, TeachMideast provides you with in-depth background and context so you can decide for yourself whether society is succeeding in its demand that Hollywood do a better job portraying minorities. The film was criticised for perpetuating Orientalist stereotypes of the Middle East and Asia. Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? But its good that Disney is protecting the world from what they have deemed racist Middle Eastern tropes invented by none other than people from the Middle East. Gary Sheffield, Jr Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. The level of authenticity Netflix is trying to achieve with this show is definitely what attracted me the most to be part of this project.. While the 1992 movie had all the fairy-tale elements to attract viewers adventure and intrigue, an evil villain, a plucky underdog, a forlorn princess trapped by tradition, and an array of supporting characters. The meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. Aladdin wasn't asking for a kingdom or riches. Here, TeachMideast provides you with in-depth background and context so you can decide for yourself whether society is succeeding in its demand that Hollywood do a better job portraying minorities. And welcomed. Itwould be great if Disney did it across the board for all of their older cartoons that may be a little insensitive., Guy Aoki, co-founder of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), sayshe has never seen 1992sAladdinhimself, but he was friends with Don Bustany, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and late deejay Casey Kasem, who were a part of a successful campaign to change problematic lyrics inAladdins introductory song Arabian Nights., They had meetings to talk about their concerns about how it was stereotyping Arab culture and how they wanted to get one line of the song changed, recalls Aoki. Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. Aladdin now has a warning on Disney + pic.twitter.com/ZzrX6qHqct Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 16, 2021 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. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. "As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are in the process of reviewing our library and adding advisories to content that includes negative depictions or mistreatment of people or cultures," reads a page titled Stories Matter on the Disney website. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. The original lyric in the first verse of the song Arabian Nights described Arabia as Where they cut off your ear if they dont like your face. Bias/Anecdote: While I can't remember too much about Aladdin specifically that might call for this (the changed line about cutting off your hand during the opening theme comes to mind, but that's already been removed), the overall tone plays on a great deal of stereotype tropes for Middle-Eastern cultures that aren't really that accurate or true, or are at least heavily exaggerated. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. 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. Yeah, probably not because that message doesnt help them pander. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Get the Daily OutKick and get smarter every day. Critics say the movie producers have used this melting pot description as an excuse to be lazier in casting. No. Heres a version of that warning, which is notably more in-depth than the one-sentence warning that Disney has implemented. Throughout the Victorian era, Aladdin sport[ed] a Manchurian queue and Chinese slippers, and the architecture feature[ed] distinctly Chinese pagodas. The emphasis on the Chinese aspects of Aladdin during this time period through the use of chinoiserie (the imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art) was especially popular. I think you might be right. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Disney adding disclaimer about racist stereotypes to some old movies Nearly a year later, on Thursday, Disney said that after consulting with a council of organizations representing minorities, it's added a newdisclaimer acknowledging the "harmful impact" of racist stereotypes in some of its older films. What can you do to be more aware of cultural insensitivity and misrepresentation in pop culture? Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together. We take a look at the origins of the folktale, the previous dramatic portrayals of the story, the 1992 animated film, and how the filmmakers tried to overcome past controversy in the latest rendition of, At the end of the overview, you can also find. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. . Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Nothing else. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. Nobodys canceling these movies, he said. 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. Disney warns viewers about racist stereotypes in classic films on Although Disney posted this message in front of the original Aladdin, the version on Disney+ has still removed the "cut off your ear" line from the opening song and Aladdin's mumbling on the balcony. While the 1992 movie had all the fairy-tale elements to attract viewers adventure and intrigue, an evil villain, a plucky underdog, a forlorn princess trapped by tradition, and an array of supporting characters, Aladdin didnt fare well with critics. The sultans palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. I would hope that Disney would do it for all the films that might include some things that are a little outdated, says Azita Ghanizada, founder of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Arts Advocacy Coalition. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. "These shouldn't be watched by children by themselves," Daryl Sparkes, senior lecturer of media studies and production at the University of Southern Queensland, told CNET, "because children are like little sponges and they soak up attitudes and feelings and opinions.". After Shaheen protested against the film alongside the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Disney agreed to alter the lyrics in Arabian Nights for Aladdin's video release in 1993, and defended it, as it was a rare film to feature an Arab hero and heroine. The disclaimer appears with some animated Disney classics such as 1967's The Jungle Book and 1953's Peter Pan , offering caution to viewers of racist and culturally insensitive depictions and. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. for Aladdin, or see the movie in theaters now, and make your own conclusions. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. While the majority of films and series that are added to Disney+ continue to be available, some titles, unfortunately, have been removed from Disney+.
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