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. 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. Of all Disney films, Song of the South has been perhaps criticized the most thanks to its depiction of African slaves. to be set somewhere in the Middle East. BBC did an article discussing it a few years ago when the remake was being talked about that might point to some examples where it's coming from. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. Aladdin, which came out in 1992, is a popular movie with fun songs and an interesting plot. It just reminds me of apu from the simpsons, where they got such a backlash that the voice actor now quit doing his voice. I would hope that Disney would do it for all the films that might include some things that are a little outdated, says Azita Ghanizada, founder of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) Arts Advocacy Coalition. I think of Aladdin as the Robin Williams show. 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. And yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . Fury of the Gods Special: Shazamily Matters, The Flash Still Shows Best Look Yet at Supergirl's Costume, 25 Years Ago, Michelle Yeoh Starred in James Bond's Most Underrated Movie, 10 Actors Who Have What It Takes To Play Superman In The New DCU. Proponents of the film also encourage focusing on the great strides the 2019 film made in being more diverse and inclusive. 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. 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. Jungle Bookreceived a disclaimer, yet its 2003 animated sequel did not. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. And welcomed. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. Here are 5: Dumbo (1941): Contains a scene of a group of cigar-smoking crows, with their leader named Jim Crow, referring to the racist segregation laws of the South, and voiced by a white actor . The original movie contains a scene of Goofy smoking a cigarette that was previously edited on Disney+. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the 2019 film surpassed the original film within a month of its release at the box office. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? A lot of it is, honestly, hard to tell or point out when you're not part of the group involved. 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. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Heres a version of that warning, which is notably more in-depth than the one-sentence warning that Disney has implemented. Extra commentary could be added to films requiring a disclaimer, he explains, such as the 2009 DVD rerelease ofBreakfast at Tiffanys that includes a featurette Aoki participated in, discussing Mickey Rooneys problematic character Mr. . While Agrabah is apparently described as this melting pot of ethnicities, that concept comes from the deeply-problematic 1992 animated film. The movie that inspired her to want a career in film is Lost in Translation. 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. 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.". The new disclaimer appears on screen before the start of movies like Aladdin, The Aristocats, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and The Three Caballeros. A lot. The new content warning, appearing on screen before the movie starts. 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. You can also see. Privacy Policy. ", clearly implying it's cutting off the hand. Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. It would be helpful if they were more specific as to whats the problem because I think people can learn from this, he says. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. 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. Is it stereotypical? Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. And if you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. 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.. 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. Yes, Skorodin says. In Richard Burton's telling, the "hero" is shallow, lazy, greedy, and easily. "Nobody's canceling these movies," he said. Delivered Wednesdays. 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. Credit: , 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. Aladdin is one of the greatest animated movies of all time and one of the main reasons behind that is the Genie character. Aoki, who has worked with Disney-owned ABC in the past as a part of the Asian Pacific American Media Colation, says he has concerns that the language in the disclaimer would not be understandable to a younger audience, likely the biggest demographic for the massive Disney+ library that dates back over eight decades. 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. While the 1992 film is widely perceived as problematic, many point to the fact that the worst parts (including racist lyrics and caricatures) have been removed and replaced with accurate Arabic script and culturally-appropriate dress. Following the Maypolice killing of George Floyd, a Black man, media companies like Sky and HBO Max have pulled content or attached warnings to prejudiced or racist material in their back catalogs, such as Gone With the Wind. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. Save America from this foolishness before its too late. 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. Its been revealed that theyre struggling to wrap up their months-long search because of a difficulty in finding a singing, dancing actor who is Middle Eastern or Indian to play the title role. Aladdin (1992) Critics have expressed concerns over the story's use of Orientalist stereotypes, while casting decisions also came under scrutiny, with Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and the genie . Makes me think Disney is putting warnings out there so people buy their movies before they go back to retiring movies for a year or two to create demand curves for their products. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. In June, Disney said it would retheme Disneyland's Splash Mountain, basing it on the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog, instead of the 1946 southern plantation movie Song of the South. The warning was crafted by Disney's advisors council, which includes representatives of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA),Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment,Define American,Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media,GLAAD Media Institute,Hollywood, Health & Society,IllumiNative,The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP),RespectAbility,The Science & Entertainment Exchange andTanenbaum. alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. 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. 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. Yet, they and their media family, (like ESPN) are always the first in line seeking to cancel anything that remotely upsets them. 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 . Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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. 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. 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 1952 version of the story below! Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. Hang tough First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. As the film-makers of the new live-action remake of Aladdin struggle to cast their hero, Sophia Smith Galer looks at the troubled history of the Disney classic. The sultans palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? Peter and the Lost Boys engage in dancing, wearing headdresses and other exaggerated tropes, a form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples' culture and imagery. 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. Bollywood is an entire industry made up of talents like this and the Middle East has equally as much talent. Disney. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. As of October 15th, Disney Plus has updated its disclaimer to include a warning that older films may contain harmful stereotypes. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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 applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. 6. 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.. Is it inaccurate? Aladdin earned $604.9 million worldwide after a little over two weeks in release, with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. Disney films have been a mainstay in many people's childhoods for generations, but some elements of them don't hold up today. 1. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. The films with the updated disclaimer includePeter Pan, Dumbo, Lady andthe Tramp, Fantasia,The Jungle BookandSwiss Family Robinson, among others. Sonny Skyhawk, founder of American Indians in Film and Television, tells THR thatfilms such as 1995s Pocahontas and 2013s The Lone Rangerrequire the disclaimer due to inaccuracies and insensitivity towards the Native American community. Our job is not to get up and say, Heres a movie that you should feel guilty about for liking. But to pretend that the racism in it is not painful and acute? However, the outbreak of the first. 5. Shaheen warned that these images would perpetuate negative stereotypes that literally sustain adverse portraits across generations. He argued: There is a commanding link between make-believe aberrations and the real world, and warned of the negative portrayal of Agrabah, the films fictionalised city that he called Hollywoods fabricated Ayrabland. It appears that for some, this warning wasnt unfounded: in 2015 it was revealed that 30% of Republican voters in the US would vote in support of bombing Agrabah. Why, on Disney plus, does aladdin have a disclaimer but not Pocahontas? 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. 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. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. 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. You can also see our lesson plan on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. ALADDIN: Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! Ditch Disney plus there. TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." Disney also came under fire for allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew members. Most recently, The Muppet Show had warning disclaimers placed prior to 18 of its episodes, warning viewers that the show features stereotypes and mistreatment of people or cultures., 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, the disclaimer says, adding Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.. in the 1992 movie. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. 7. Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. How do you feel about Aladdin? are plenty other streamers out there. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Some accused Disney of reinforcing notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. After Mr. That was really fantastic of [Paramount] to do that., Ghanizada says the language feels similar to the warning that this program contains nudity or violence, adding that it is a broad catchall. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of Aladdin was the highest-grossing film of 1992, earning over $346 million in worldwide box office revenue. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group. But now Disney is offended by its own creation, so it slaps a warning on Aladdin. After the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee complained about song lyrics describing the setting in the film, Where they cut off your ear if they dont like your face,. 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.. It protects the filmmaker from feedback. 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. Disney also removed the "This program is presented as originally created" description from Saludos Amigos, which is funny because now the movie is actually presented as originally created. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. 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. We just let them know that it is a piece of media from another time, Skorodin says. 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. Overall, group representatives say they appreciate efforts made by Disney to recognize outdated cultural depictions while advocating for films likeAladdinor 1995sPocahontasto also receive the disclaimer. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. It's a bunch of small things here or there that most people wouldn't think much about, but it's a good step forward to at least acknowledge the potential for harm or offense even where none was meant. The 1992 Disney animated film placed the story in the Middle East but the change in scenery was not necessarily based on historic or contemporary accuracy. See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. Why or why not? So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. 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. Several representatives of minority advocacy groups spoke withThe Hollywood Reporterabout their reactions to the Disney+ disclaimer and what, if any, extra measures can be enacted by Disney to caution viewers of culturally insensitive material. Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. We can therefore assume that Genie only focused on making Aladdin a prince so that he could have a shot with Jasmine. Aladdin now has a warning on Disney + pic.twitter.com/ZzrX6qHqct, This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. For more information, please see our has been questioned over its casting woes, theyre struggling to wrap up their months-long search, The American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee saw. What can you do to be more aware of cultural insensitivity and misrepresentation in pop culture? Aladdin wasn't asking for a kingdom or riches. The film and its creators refused to do the work of normalizing and humanizing people of color for American audiences. Disney+ updated its policy toward its films containing offensive material, posting a new disclaimer and adding new movies to its list of programs that feature "negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures." The only question is how to best address this. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? In the examples below, the illustration of Aladdin on the left, circa 1930 by an unknown artist, (Credit: Getty Images/Hulton Archive), and the illustration on the right from the early 20th century (Credit: Alamy), both clearly depict Asian clothing and settings. Press J to jump to the feed. Nearly a year later, on Thursday, Disney said that after consulting with a council of organizations representing minorities, it's added a new disclaimer acknowledging the "harmful impact" of. '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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? As mentioned above, the original, one of many films released as part of the Disney Renaissance, made $504 million worldwide over its entire box office lifetime. For The Lone Ranger specifically,Skyhawk explained Johnny Depp taking on the role of Tonto, described as a spirit warrior from the Comanche tribe, was offensive casting resulting in an offensive character. That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. Disney's policy here is also sketchy considering the sheer amount of content still edited on Disney+. Edit: forgot to write "answer", so i copypasted my original vomment. Thedisclaimerappears with some animated Disney classics such as 1967sThe Jungle Bookand 1953sPeter Pan,offering caution to viewers of racist and culturally insensitive depictions and references in the plots and characters of those movies. Aspects of the story also have Indian influences, including Jasmines Indian tiger Rajah, and the sultans palace in the animated film looking remarkably similar to the Taj Mahal. Im pretty sure during the 60s all the way up to the 90s cutting off the hands of thieves was an actual punishment in sharia law.So its not racist to point out a system of law - dictated by a book - in the part of the world it directly influenced and thus gave inspiration for a fictional versionagrabah. No. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, . Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversations to create a more inclusive future together., Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. He's a young Middle Eastern man and a homeless orphan that . That is even more important in an era of mass media, all-you-can-watch online streaming. Some other Disney films, like Fantasia, Aladdin, and Peter Pan, have been criticized as well, but notably, Disneys Song of the South remains absent from the service. 3. 17 moments in Disney movies that haven't aged well. These animated films teach us so much, and especially young kids, Ghanizada says. I am cynical by nature. How do you feel about Aladdin? 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. Yeah, probably not because that message doesnt help them pander. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. The new . When played on the Disney+ streaming service, films such as . Become a home entertainment expert with our handpicked tips, reviews and deals. Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. Looking further back, 1940sFantasiahas been criticized for the depiction of a black centaurette called Sunflower polishing the hooves of a white centaurette, as well as another named Otika who briefly appears in the Pastoral Symphonysegment. 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. No one thats who. 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. All rights reserved. Theyre suddenly switching lanes (without putting on their signal, I should add) and trying to educate when they should just be creating a fun environment. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. If the consensus from those directly harmed is that we need stronger wording you will receive no argument from me. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? and our Reimagining the Middle East: Grassroots Movements, Arab American Heritage Month Resource Guide, wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew, Middle Eastern critic Maha Albadrawi says.
why does aladdin have a disclaimer
