Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. 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. 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. 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. 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Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). pic.twitter.com/X9aGjXv97o. 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 . Many have referenced the WB. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. But maybe thats the issue that Disney and other major corporations cant seem to understand. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 'Aladdin' Now Has A Warning Screen On Disney+ - OutKick 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. Throughout the Victorian era, Aladdin sport[ed] a Manchurian queue and Chinese slippers, and the architecture feature[ed] distinctly Chinese pagodas. The emphasis on the Chinese aspects of Aladdin during this time period through the use of chinoiserie (the imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art) was especially popular. Aladdin - Wikipedia 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. Ron Clements and John Musker, the directors of the 1992 film, that the movie was originally intended to be set in Baghdad, Iraq. Yes. Why does 'Aladdin' continue to fascinate after all these years? But they will not stop playing Aladdin. 2. 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. Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. 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.. After Mr. 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. Disney warns viewers about racist stereotypes in classic films on Ron Clements and John Musker, the directors of the 1992 film, said in 2015 that the movie was originally intended to be set in Baghdad, Iraq. At the end of the overview, you can also find resources section for further exploration in the classroom. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. For more information, please see our Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. Don't stand until the rug has come to a complete stop. 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. Nothing else. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please review Rule 4 and this post before making a top level comment: I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Source. Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. 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, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. "As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are in the process of reviewing our library and adding advisories to content that includes negative depictions or mistreatment of people or cultures," reads a page titled Stories Matter on the Disney website. KEEP READING:Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. film within a month of its release at the box office. Now, it admits they were not just "outdated" but "wrong" even back then and that such negative portrayals had a harmful impact in real life. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." 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. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. Disney Princesses Who Suffer From Some Kind Of Mental Disorder - TheRichest 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. 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. One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. Aoki believes it should specifically note what the issue of each film is, rather than offering up an ambiguous line. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. 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. Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. The original movie contains a scene of Goofy smoking a cigarette that was previously edited on Disney+. How do you feel about Aladdin? In Disneys animatedPocahontas, the most striking inaccuracies are her age (she was a child when she met Captain John Smith, according to Encyclopedia Britannica) and there was no real romantic relationship between the two. After Mr. 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.. The original story from November 2019 detailing the original Disney+ content warning is below. Original cartoon versions of movies such as Dumbo, The Jungle Book . Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. 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. A Syrian named Hanna Diyab did apparently meet with Galland at some point, but it remains unclear how much, if any, of the story came from him. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Disney. 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. 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. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. It reads: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. in the new adaptation. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". But now Disney is offended by its own creation, so it slaps a warning on Aladdin. How is your familys culture represented in film, television or literature? 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. are plenty other streamers out there. Abby Monteil. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. March 16, 2021, 12:54 pmupdated March 16, 2021, 1:46 pm 'Aladdin' Reveals What Happened to Jasmine's Mother - Insider The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. 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? You can also see. Its either that or the children are rebelling against authority. 7. The iconic films Aristocats (1970), Peter Pan (1953) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960) also feature the warning ahead of the film. , 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. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. It would be helpful if they were more specific as to whats the problem because I think people can learn from this, he says. notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. 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. The sultans palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. 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. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. 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. 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. 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. EspeciallywithAladdin, with those orientalized tropes that were kind of pushing back against.. Disney's Aladdin Is Racist - Affinity Magazine The new statement is more strongly worded than one Disneytacked onto some films when Disney+ first rolled out last year. 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. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. We talked to people at Disney about that depiction I said there are probably a hundred [Native] people of that caliber that can do that and yet youre going to try and force Johnny Depp down our throat, says Skyhawk. The meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. 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. But I've realized how problematic Aladdin's character is. Press J to jump to the feed. However, the outbreak of the first. 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. First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. Disney+ Updates Offensive Content Disclaimer for Aladdin, Peter - CBR 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? ', As 10 million Disney+ subscribers browse through the new streaming platforms hefty film and TV library, a line at the end of select content summaries might catch their attention: This program is presented as originally created. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. These animated films teach us so much, and especially young kids, Ghanizada says. The new message plays before all of the listed films for about 10 seconds and cannot be skipped or fast-forwarded. 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. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? Delivered Wednesdays. The movie that inspired her to want a career in film is Lost in Translation. Is it okay to watch a movie if it includes offensive parts? "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. You can follow him at GarySheffieldJr. CBS News has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. 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. '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. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group. It just reminds me of apu from the simpsons, where they got such a backlash that the voice actor now quit doing his voice. Jennifer Bisset is a Senior Editor for CNET. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the. alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. Think thatll ever happen with divorce rates higher than ever? To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.". 6. , which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. It feels sincere, and its also good business., In November 2019, when Disney launched its Disney+ streaming service, the company added content warnings ahead of its animated classics Dumbo (1941), The Jungle Book (1967) and Aladdin (1992) to warn audiences that the movies may contain outdated cultural depictions.. It may contain outdated cultural depictions" accompany the description of each relevant film on the menu page. And welcomed. 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.