Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. All rights reserved. 5. Proponents of the film also encourage focusing on the great strides the 2019 film made in being more diverse and inclusive. The 2019 film also removed several instance of the most egregious racism from the animated film. ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." 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 . Critics say the movie producers have used this melting pot description as an excuse to be lazier in casting. The company said that while it can't change he past, "we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together.". 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. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? 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. We just let them know that it is a piece of media from another time, Skorodin says. The sultans palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. 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. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? Here Are 5 Movies Disney Plus Put 'Cultural' Warnings On - Forbes 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. 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. The Aristocats, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and more now have stronger content warnings. 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Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. While the voice cast of the 1992 movie was entirely white, the live-action film boasts a diverse cast. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. At the end of the overview, you can also find resources section for further exploration in the classroom. It can also be argued that outrage about Naomi Scott is invalid, given the. 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. are plenty other streamers out there. Hang tough 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. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. Is it okay to watch a movie if it includes offensive parts? to be set somewhere in the Middle East. There are now more opportunities for people in the United States, and elsewhere, to access regionally-produced entertainment from the Middle East. 'Aladdin' Among Films Given Content Warnings - Inside the Magic Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Press J to jump to the feed. He's a young Middle Eastern man and a homeless orphan that . 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. 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. But now Disney is offended by its own creation, so it slaps a warning on Aladdin. 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. Disney adding disclaimer about racist stereotypes to some old movies Lets be clear, Disney did harm. In its history, Disney has produced 56 animated movies. Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? 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.. 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. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. The only question is how to best address this. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, . Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 'Aladdin' Reveals What Happened to Jasmine's Mother - Insider She covers film and TV news and reviews. 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. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". 1. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. 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.". How do you feel about Aladdin? Background characters. The line you're thinking of is "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. Disney Plus Offers Warnings Over 'Outdated Cultural Depictions - IGN 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. Theyre unqualified, and its time for minorities in this country to start ignoring these major corporations that stunt double as our parents. The page includes a section explaining in greater detail the negative depictions in certain titles. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Aladdin film poster comparison. UPDATE: Disney has updated their content warning on Disney+ to an unskippable, 12-second message in front of controversial movies or shorts. Aladdin is one of them. Cookie Notice I think of Aladdin as the Robin Williams show. Otherwise they wouldnt seek to continue to make money off of their offensive, racist creation. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. 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. 5 Things to Know About Aladdin - TeachMideast Some accused Disney of reinforcing notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. Top row shows the 1992 animated cast while below are the actors used in the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin. 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." He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. Yet, they and their media family, (like ESPN) are always the first in line seeking to cancel anything that remotely upsets them. This supports the idea that Genie only changes Aladdin's appearance, which he also indirectly confirms a few lines later: 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. 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. He says that while working with young filmmakers, he has never insisted they dont watch it or they dont appreciate it or that its wrong. Why is there so little Middle Eastern, Arab or Muslim (or other minority group) representation in film and television? Creating a diverse and primarily non-white cast for the film was a huge step in accurately portraying a land set in the Middle East and moving towards greater diversity in Hollywood. At that time, it simply noted, "This program is presented as originally created. "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. Providing warning labels to minorities like myself does nothing to protect or encourage us in society. 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. 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. March 16, 2021, 12:54 pmupdated March 16, 2021, 1:46 pm A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. 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. 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. 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. What is the hidden message in Aladdin? - Sage-Advices Disney Plus adds content warning to animated movies criticized as What's going on with the disclaimer on Disney+ before Aladdin? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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! The one thing you probably didn't notice about Disney dudes' chests Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). 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.. If anything it highlighted overcoming a class struggle but I guess Marxism has mutated to race and gender now. Disney's Aladdin Is Racist - Affinity Magazine 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. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. However, the outbreak of the first. 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. 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. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. 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. On Oct. 15, Disney Plus introduced a new disclaimer that appears before older films like Dumbo (1941) and Aladdin (1992), warning viewers that the films include harmful stereotypes. 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. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. Of all Disney films, Song of the South has been perhaps criticized the most thanks to its depiction of African slaves. 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. Gary Sheffield, Jr , with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. Yes, Skorodin says. The rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. Walt Disney Studios. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. Abby Monteil. A similar decision was recently made by HBO Max for the classic, yet problematic, film Gone With the Wind. Its a convenient system that insists actors-of-colour need to be household names to be cast, while nobody wants to give them a break. Alexander posted a list of potential actors on Twitter, asking Guy to give me a call., The well-loved soundtrack for the 1992 animation is actually an edited version of the one that was heard in cinemas (Credit: Alamy). The Disney drama kicked into higher gear after we saw Dr. Seuss books go from being $5 to $500. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. After Mr. Why does Aladdin have a warning now? Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. members. What can you do to be more aware of cultural insensitivity and misrepresentation in pop culture? It might be worth asking ourselves when the new film is released: what would Jack Shaheen think? 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. 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. I cant wait until Disney finally puts a warning label on their films portraying marriage like the fantasy that its never been. This thread is archived Disney films have been a mainstay in many people's childhoods for generations, but some elements of them don't hold up today. In Richard Burton's telling, the "hero" is shallow, lazy, greedy, and easily. 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. 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. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. film within a month of its release at the box office. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. 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. I think you might be right. 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. We've received your submission. 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. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. Pray tell who is offended by Aladdin? Ditch Disney plus there. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. And yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . As of October 15th, Disney Plus has updated its disclaimer to include a warning that older films may contain harmful stereotypes. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. 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. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. 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. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. The sultan's palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. 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. RELATED:Amazon Prime Video Is Catching up to Netflix While HBO Max Outpaces Disney+ Growth. 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 . 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? It may contain outdated cultural depictions." Some were alarmed by the films stereotypes and generalizations about Arabs and the Middle East. 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. '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.