Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. 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. 8. The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. Think thatll ever happen with divorce rates higher than ever? October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM / CBS News Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. Disney+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. 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.. Ditch Disney plus there. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? I understand Peter Pan and Dumbo but why Aladdin? This supports the idea that Genie only changes Aladdin's appearance, which he also indirectly confirms a few lines later: 3. First noticed by Twitter user @324_B21, and reported by Mashable, films like the original 1941 Dumbo, The Aristocats, Jungle Book, the 1955 animated Lady and the Tramp all feature the same outdated culturual depictions warning. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. A lot. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. 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. Disney is acknowledging that their past depictions of minorities/cultures in Alladin was not okay, but not take it down because removing it may as well be pretending it didn't happen. Disney is the only media outlet who can show Aladdin. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. The highly controversial Song of the South (1946) is not available on the streaming service. An adamant defender of The Last Jedi and the series finale of Lost, he can be reached at sam.g@cbr.com or through his Twitter, @SamMgelman. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews, Disney+ Updates Offensive Content Disclaimer for Aladdin, Peter Pan and More, Amazon Prime Video Is Catching up to Netflix While HBO Max Outpaces Disney+ Growth, Disney: COVID Forces Restructure, Puts Greater Focus on Streaming Content, Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy, REVIEW: Frank Miller Presents Ancient Enemies: The Djinni #1 Crafts a Compelling Origin Story, REVIEW: DC's Shazam! The new message plays before all of the listed films for about 10 seconds and cannot be skipped or fast-forwarded. 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. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. 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. Walt Disney Studios. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. Why does Aladdin have a warning now? Disney also came under fire for allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew members. Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. "Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all." 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. How is your familys culture represented in film, television or literature? This thread is archived alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. Please review Rule 4 and this post before making a top level comment: I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. 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. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.". Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. Why is it important to have culturally-accurate depictions in film and television? It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. And if you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. 7. 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. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. The company said that while. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. 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. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 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. Though he was skeptical that the disclaimer would have a large impact on children, Dr. Shah said that racist scenes offered learning opportunities when children watched them with their parents. Theyre unqualified, and its time for minorities in this country to start ignoring these major corporations that stunt double as our parents. 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. It might be worth asking ourselves when the new film is released: what would Jack Shaheen think? All Rights Reserved. The decision to introduce the disclaimer came after a consultation with a group of independent experts, who review how media portrays underrepresented groups and advocate for more thoughtful solutions. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. 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. 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 yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . 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. Aladdin Now Has A Warning Screen On Disney+, Mike Brey Ready For Something New As He Steps Away From Notre Dame After 23 Years, Rick Carlisles Character On Display As Pacers Honor Late Indiana Media Legend David Benner With Cool Gesture, Keith Olbermann Calls For The Burning Of Disney World In Front Of DeSantis, Scientists Suggest Brilliant Strategy Of Blocking Out The Sun To Stop Climate Change. Iconic film critic, Roger Ebert, wrote in his 1992 review: One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. Press J to jump to the feed. Delivered Wednesdays. 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. 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. 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. Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. 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. Many have referenced the WB. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. film within a month of its release at the box office. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. 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.. Yeah, probably not because that message doesnt help them pander. 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. 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. 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! Aladdin is one of the greatest animated movies of all time and one of the main reasons behind that is the Genie character. Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. "Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.". The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. "Disney could have used stronger language, which would more proactively invite a conversation around the context of these caricatures," Swinburne University of Technology film and TV lecturer Jessica Balanzategui told CNET in June. In its history, Disney has produced 56 animated movies. However, experts continued to criticize the soft language used in the old Disney Plus disclaimers. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? 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 new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. How do you feel about Aladdin? You can also see our lesson plan on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. Best New Journalist 2019 Australian IT Journalism Awards, experts have criticized the soft language used in its disclaimer, disclaimer acknowledging the "harmful impact" of racist stereotypes, a page titled Stories Matter on the Disney website, racist material in their back catalogs, such as Gone With the Wind, The best movies to watch on Disney Plus for Thanksgiving, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The film-makers including director Guy Ritchie are on the hunt for leads who can live up to the animated films loveable street urchin Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. 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. Warner Bros. featured a similar warning regarding some of its older cartoons, such as Tom & Jerry, which appeared on Amazon, according to CinemaBlend. Why or why not? Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? 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. Mar 1, 2023. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. by It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. It worked. 17 moments in Disney movies that haven't aged well. 2. 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. 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? The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, A Thousand and One Nights. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? You can also see. Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). That is even more important in an era of mass media, all-you-can-watch online streaming. 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. pic.twitter.com/X9aGjXv97o. Santa's Workshop, Three Little Pigs, Clock Cleaners, Fantasia, The Rescuers, Toy Story 2, and a lot more programs are still edited for controversial content. Hang tough Save America from this foolishness before its too late. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. 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 . Jungle Bookreceived a disclaimer, yet its 2003 animated sequel did not. 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, alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. And welcomed. He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. Guess Disney isnt that offended after all. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. The movie that inspired her to want a career in film is Lost in Translation. 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. Source. 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. 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. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. '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. In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of Aladdin, which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. For many, Disneys 1992 film Aladdin conjures up images of innocence: star-crossed lovers on a magic carpet, a benevolent pet tiger and a comedic genie who would grant every hearts desire. The sultan's palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. But I've realized how problematic Aladdin's character is. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. 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. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? The film remains controversial to this day. Jennifer Bisset is a Senior Editor for CNET. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Don Owens. Aladdin wasn't asking for a kingdom or riches. Aladdin (/ l d n / -LAD-in; Arabic: , Al ud-Dn/ Al ad-Dn, IPA: [ala addin], ATU 561, 'Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale.It is one of the best-known tales associated with The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights), despite not being part of the original text; it was added by the Frenchman Antoine Galland, based . The Stories Matter page on Disney's site notes the characters' connection to racist minstrel shows. Aladdin, which came out in 1992, is a popular movie with fun songs and an interesting plot. The new statement is more strongly worded than one Disneytacked onto some films when Disney+ first rolled out last year. Don't stand until the rug has come to a complete stop. But, he adds, with Native American actress Irene Bedard as the voice of Pocahontas in the film, some in his community might both enjoy and accept it as presented. 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. 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 . March 16, 2021, 12:54 pmupdated March 16, 2021, 1:46 pm The new content warning, appearing on screen before the movie starts. 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. "Nobody's canceling these movies," he said. But maybe thats the issue that Disney and other major corporations cant seem to understand. She covers film and TV news and reviews. Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. 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. 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. to be set somewhere in the Middle East. Non-Christian religions, the countries and . / CBS News, Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. Authenticity was not a major consideration. 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. Aladdin is one of them. Providing warning labels to minorities like myself does nothing to protect or encourage us in society. That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? 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. Jasmine can be seen wearing one of her mother's bracelets in the live-action movie. Gary Sheffield, Jr Given that is fictional, whos to say it cant include many different races and ethnic backgrounds? Background characters. If you are a younger person and youre watching something and that youre not aware that theres potential violence or now, cultural insensitivity, I think [the disclaimer] is kind of protecting [filmmakers] the same way that it does those other catchphrases., Still, she says that Disneys decision to include a disclaimer is appreciated, noting it is the first step to correcting things that might not have been thought about 10, 20, 30 years ago when these [films] were being made., Aoki echoes that sentiment, saying he finds Disney today to be a totally different company from the one that existed even 20, 25 years ago. He adds: I spoke to a Disney executive a few years ago who told me that, I think it was every Friday, [CEO] Bob Iger has a meeting with all the company heads, including Marvel and Pixar and everybody that is under their corporate umbrella, and he says, OK, report to me what you have done to further diversity at this company. So its not lip service as far as, Oh, yes, we believe in diversity and we try to have open casting.