TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." Walt Disney Studios. Is it okay to watch a movie if it includes offensive parts? RELATED:Disney: COVID Forces Restructure, Puts Greater Focus on Streaming Content. in the 1992 movie. The American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee saw light-skinned, Anglicised features in the heroes Aladdin and Jasmine that contrasted sharply with the swarthy, greedy street merchants who had Arabic accents and grotesque facial features. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. This was inevitable. 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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. 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. , in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. 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. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Mar 1, 2023. 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. The film remains controversial to this day. A content advisory notice for racism in classic Disney films, in place since last year, has been updated with a strengthened message. , with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. 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. ALADDIN: Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! 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. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Potato Head survived by a thread and liberal white men working at Disneyland saved black women from the horrors of Splash Mountainnow Aladdin is racist. Warner Bros. featured a similar warning regarding some of its older cartoons, such as Tom & Jerry, which appeared on Amazon, according to CinemaBlend. And yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, A Thousand and One Nights. 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. 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. I do not want to shy away from that. Gary Sheffield Jr is the son of should-be MLB Hall of Famer, Gary Sheffield. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. 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. This supports the idea that Genie only changes Aladdin's appearance, which he also indirectly confirms a few lines later: In Richard Burton's telling, the "hero" is shallow, lazy, greedy, and easily. Sky has issued a disclaimer alongside a number of its films that have 'outdated values' including the 1986 hit Aliens (pictured: Sigourney Weaver) The broadcasting giants say it is reviewing. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. 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. 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. Given that is fictional, whos to say it cant include many different races and ethnic backgrounds? 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. Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. 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. 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. Top row shows the 1992 animated cast while below are the actors used in the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin. UPDATE: Disney has updated their content warning on Disney+ to an unskippable, 12-second message in front of controversial movies or shorts. The rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. Aladdin now has a warning on Disney + pic.twitter.com/ZzrX6qHqct, This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. 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." As of October 15th, Disney Plus has updated its disclaimer to include a warning that older films may contain harmful stereotypes. Save America from this foolishness before its too late. to be set somewhere in the Middle East. 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. It protects the filmmaker from feedback. This applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. Otherwise they wouldnt seek to continue to make money off of their offensive, racist creation. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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. Thats basically what they did and its the arrogance of Hollywood and the arrogance of Disney to say its our idea, its our money and were going to do it, whether you like it or not.. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. 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. Aladdin wasn't asking for a kingdom or riches. 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. Yet, they and their media family, (like ESPN) are always the first in line seeking to cancel anything that remotely upsets them. But it's not as innocent as it seems. Those disclaimers are now gone in favor of the new message. 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. 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. 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. 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. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. 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. Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. Here is that wording. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. "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. Aladdin film poster comparison. 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 . She covers film and TV news and reviews. Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. The live-action reveal is a bit of a surprise. 2. The crows in Dumbo. Don't stand until the rug has come to a complete stop. In "Sleeping Beauty," Prince Phillip kisses Aurora while she's unconscious. "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures," the statement reads. 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. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. 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. It would be helpful if they were more specific as to whats the problem because I think people can learn from this, he says. Iconic film critic, Roger Ebert, wrote in his 1992 review: One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. The film was criticised for perpetuating Orientalist stereotypes of the Middle East and Asia. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. 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. Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. 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. 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. Disney holds monthly meetings to determine what content in its archive needs to have a warning added. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. 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. March 16, 2021, 12:54 pmupdated March 16, 2021, 1:46 pm Disney said it created an advisory council made up of outside experts who helped the company "assess our content and ensure it accurately represents our global audiences." 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. 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. You know, I actually dont mind this in one respect for now; it gives the reactionary, mob something to point at as evidence they are doing something to educate. 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+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. 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. The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. Guiver makes points to show that Aladdin is the only character next to his Disney contemporaries who doesn't have this particular anatomy, but actually, Disney has somewhat of a reputation when . Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. 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. Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. Theyre unqualified, and its time for minorities in this country to start ignoring these major corporations that stunt double as our parents. Nothing else. 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. Jasmine can be seen wearing one of her mother's bracelets in the live-action movie. 13 Comments. Edit: forgot to write "answer", so i copypasted my original vomment. In the scene where Jasmine gives the beggar an apple from a cart, the merchant grabs her wrist, draws a sword saying, "Don't you know what the penalty is for stealing? But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. However, the outbreak of the first. 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. Think thatll ever happen with divorce rates higher than ever? 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. 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. I cant wait until Disney finally puts a warning label on their films portraying marriage like the fantasy that its never been. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? 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. Cookie Notice 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. 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. Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. 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. 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. "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. Why is there so little Middle Eastern, Arab or Muslim (or other minority group) representation in film and television? 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. Don Owens. EspeciallywithAladdin, with those orientalized tropes that were kind of pushing back against.. 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. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. But maybe thats the issue that Disney and other major corporations cant seem to understand. We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. 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. 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. "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.". Credit: Outnow/Alamy. Get the Daily OutKick and get smarter every day. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.". Just so were clear, Disney made Aladdin. 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. 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. '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. 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. After Mr. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. 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. That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? 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. I understand Peter Pan and Dumbo but why Aladdin? 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. InPeter Pan, offensive Native Americans caricatures appear throughout the story, along with the problematic song, What Makes the Red Man Red. Lady and the Trampand another Disney animated animal film,Aristocats, both feature cats that mock Asian Americans with illustration and voice acting. on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. This is pretty much the progressive movement in a nutshell. Fans questioned the need to include this new character whose appearance was ultimately inconsequential and wondered why a white character had to be added to a refreshingly-multicultural film. And if you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. , 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. "Our job is. 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. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 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. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. The rags-to-riches story of a street urchin named Aladdin who asks a genie in a lamp to make him a prince is a work of fantasy. 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. The meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. Aladdin, which came out in 1992, is a popular movie with fun songs and an interesting plot. Pray tell who is offended by Aladdin? 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. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Disney. Hang tough Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? for Aladdin, or see the movie in theaters now, and make your own conclusions. For more information, please see our 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. Gary Sheffield, Jr 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 stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. The new content warning, appearing on screen before the movie starts. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. For instance, there are racist caricatures in "Dumbo" and . Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. 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. 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. It just reminds me of apu from the simpsons, where they got such a backlash that the voice actor now quit doing his voice. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. And welcomed. Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. 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. "Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.".
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