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. You are agreeing to OutKick's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, but don't worry we don't spam. That is even more important in an era of mass media, all-you-can-watch online streaming. Ditch Disney plus there. 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. 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. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. , including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. 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. 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. 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 rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. However, experts continued to criticize the soft language used in the old Disney Plus disclaimers. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. 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. One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. 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.. Jasmine can be seen wearing one of her mother's bracelets in the live-action movie. She won Best New Journalist in 2019 at the Australian IT Journalism Awards. Why does Aladdin have a warning now? Disney films have been a mainstay in many people's childhoods for generations, but some elements of them don't hold up today. Gary-I have to say I really look forward to your posts; you have extremely interesting, independent and logically defensible takes on a variety of subjects. 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. 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? This was inevitable. 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. Providing warning labels to minorities like myself does nothing to protect or encourage us in society. "Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.". This is pretty much the progressive movement in a nutshell. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, . 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 . 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. In June, Disney said it would retheme Disneyland's Splash Mountain, basing it on the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog, instead of the 1946 southern plantation movie Song of the South. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. Archived post. 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. did apparently meet with Galland at some point, but it remains unclear how much, if any, of the story came from him. 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. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? In addition to those older films, it's also included at the start of "Aladdin," the animated blockbuster from 1992. 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. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. 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. Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. 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. , 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. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. The Aristocats, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and more now have stronger content warnings. The Disney drama kicked into higher gear after we saw Dr. Seuss books go from being $5 to $500. Aoki believes it should specifically note what the issue of each film is, rather than offering up an ambiguous line. 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. Other companies and brands, likeAunt Jemimaand Uncle Ben's, have also recently taken steps to recognize and distance themselves from racist stereotypes by changing their branding in the wake of widespread protests for racial justice in the U.S. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. in the new adaptation. 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. 13 Comments. Please disregard such warningsand better yet, dont give Disney another dime of your money. 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. The crows in Dumbo. The sultan's palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. I am cynical by nature. There wasnt so much a backlash for Apu, Rather a shitty Asian comic realised he would get some media attention by claiming it to be racist.Now Asians are out of a character that was a representation of their culture at the start of the simpsons show. The disclaimer reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Otherwise they wouldnt seek to continue to make money off of their offensive, racist creation. Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. It might be worth asking ourselves when the new film is released: what would Jack Shaheen think? Background characters wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. This applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. 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. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. 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. This thread is archived If the consensus from those directly harmed is that we need stronger wording you will receive no argument from me. You can also see our lesson plan on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. 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. The new . The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. 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.. 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! In its history, Disney has produced 56 animated movies. 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. 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. 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. Prior to all their films, and outside all their theme parks, Disney should display this disclaimer: Disney once made programming for children which, while entertaining millions of viewers of all ages, also brought diverse cultures and races together. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. 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.. 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). Critics say the movie producers have used this melting pot description as an excuse to be lazier in casting. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. No. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. 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. notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. 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. 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. "Nobody's canceling these movies," he said. Why is it important to have culturally-accurate depictions in film and television? To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit Disney.com/storiesmatter, First off, when did Disney suddenly become a Civil Rights movement? 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. 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. Background characters. ', Skyhawk notes that even with disclaimers, the damage created by outdated depictions will be difficult to erase: That having been said, Im just glad that were now entering a new phase of sensitivity towards minorities and including the native people of America that is long overdue.. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. How do you see this issue changing in the future? 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. Warner Bros. featured a similar warning regarding some of its older cartoons, such as Tom & Jerry, which appeared on Amazon, according to CinemaBlend. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Disney's policy here is also sketchy considering the sheer amount of content still edited on Disney+. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." It is also important to think about all the improvements the 2019 movie made over the 1992 adaptation (see #3 on this list above!). Don Owens. I assume it also has to do with being more sensitive towards muslim culture nowadays, as the last twenty years there was quite the bashing for the group as a whole. Aladdin is one of the greatest animated movies of all time and one of the main reasons behind that is the Genie character. Weve had some very raw conversations on those Zooms, African American Film Critics Association President Gil Robertson told the Hollywood Reporter. 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. In the 2019 film, Agrabah is 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. 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. ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." There are now more opportunities for people in the United States, and elsewhere, to access regionally-produced entertainment from the Middle East. 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." For more information, please see our Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. We just let them know that it is a piece of media from another time, Skorodin says. 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. 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. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Many have referenced the WB. Save America from this foolishness before its too late. Read about our approach to external linking. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. March 16, 2021, 12:54 pmupdated March 16, 2021, 1:46 pm "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures," the statement reads. Disney holds monthly meetings to determine what content in its archive needs to have a warning added. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to ourFacebookpage or message us onTwitter. are plenty other streamers out there. While the voice cast of the 1992 movie was entirely white, the live-action film boasts a diverse cast. Answer: Alladin has stereotypes of minorities that were considered acceptable by most people when it is made, but society has progressed and no longer view that as acceptable (for good reason). It may contain outdated cultural depictions." Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. 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. 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. ', 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. 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. Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. What? As the film-makers of the new live-action remake of Aladdin struggle to cast their hero, Sophia Smith Galer looks at the troubled history of the Disney classic. The 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. Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. 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. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. 6. We've received your submission. But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. Which iirc got changed to "With winds in the east and the sun from the west, where the sand and the glass is bright". "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. The original movie contains a scene of Goofy smoking a cigarette that was previously edited on Disney+. 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. 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. And welcomed. 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. 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.
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