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. 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. Of all Disney films, Song of the South has been perhaps criticized the most thanks to its depiction of African slaves. In the examples below, the, With the advent of the Hollywood film industry, the story returned to its fabled Middle Eastern origins, replete with exotic and exaggerated stereotypes note the poster for a. 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. But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. After Mr. The 2019 film also removed several instance of the most egregious racism from the animated film. 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. Is it inaccurate? "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. on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. 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. 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 Princesses Who Suffer From Some Kind Of Mental Disorder - TheRichest ", The movies that will now start with the disclaimer include "Aristocats," which features racist caricatures of East Asian peoples; "Dumbo," in which the crow characters perform a musical number in the style of racist minstrel shows; "Peter Pan," for its stereotypical portrayal of Native peoples; and "Swiss Family Robinson," in which pirates are portrayed as a stereotypical foreign menace, many in "yellow face" or "brown face.". The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. 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. Walt Disney Studios. 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. Source. A lot. The Stories Matter page on Disney's site notes the characters' connection to racist minstrel shows. Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. Aspects of the story also have Indian influences, including Jasmines Indian tiger Rajah, and the sultans palace in the animated film looking remarkably similar to the Taj Mahal. 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 film was criticised for perpetuating Orientalist stereotypes of the Middle East and Asia. When played on the Disney+ streaming service, films such as . Disney+ Adds a Racist Stereotype Disclaimer - Matador Network Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. 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 said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." 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. film within a month of its release at the box office. Shaheen warned that these images would perpetuate negative stereotypes that literally sustain adverse portraits across generations. He argued: There is a commanding link between make-believe aberrations and the real world, and warned of the negative portrayal of Agrabah, the films fictionalised city that he called Hollywoods fabricated Ayrabland. It appears that for some, this warning wasnt unfounded: in 2015 it was revealed that 30% of Republican voters in the US would vote in support of bombing Agrabah. The rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the. 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. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. 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. Aladdin: 15 Best Genie Quotes - ScreenRant Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. Don Owens. The meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. Get the Daily OutKick and get smarter every day. 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. And if you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. 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. Providing warning labels to minorities like myself does nothing to protect or encourage us in society. 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. We can therefore assume that Genie only focused on making Aladdin a prince so that he could have a shot with Jasmine. In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of Aladdin, which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. Rather, the story was often presented as a hybrid tale of the exoticized Orient meeting modern English-language styles and fashions, according to one critic. Abby Monteil. Privacy Policy. How do you feel about Aladdin? It worked. 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. 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. For instance, there are racist caricatures in "Dumbo" and . 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. An adamant defender of The Last Jedi and the series finale of Lost, he can be reached at sam.g@cbr.com or through his Twitter, @SamMgelman. Aladdin - Wikipedia . 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. One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. 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. However, the outbreak of the first. I am cynical by nature. 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. The movie follows a street urchin named Aladdin, who finds a magic lamp and genie and helps to save his city from the evil Grand Vizier. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. The Aristocats, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and more now have stronger content warnings. 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. Those disclaimers are now gone in favor of the new message. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. First noticed by Twitter user @324_B21, and reported by Mashable, films like the original 1941 Dumbo, The Aristocats, Jungle Book, the 1955 animated Lady and the Tramp all feature the same outdated culturual depictions warning. No. This thread is archived 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. Its been revealed that theyre struggling to wrap up their months-long search because of a difficulty in finding a singing, dancing actor who is Middle Eastern or Indian to play the title role. Many have referenced the WB. The film remains controversial to this day. , which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. When the Genie turned Aladdin into "Prince Ali", what exactly did that 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. Disney holds monthly meetings to determine what content in its archive needs to have a warning added. Why, on Disney plus, does aladdin have a disclaimer but not Pocahontas? What is the hidden message in Aladdin? - Sage-Advices Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). In "Sleeping Beauty," Prince Phillip kisses Aurora while she's unconscious. I think you might be right. Disney Plus disclaimer now acknowledges 'harmful impact' of - CNET Weve had some very raw conversations on those Zooms, African American Film Critics Association President Gil Robertson told the Hollywood Reporter. 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. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. While the true origins of the tale of Aladdin cannot be completely verified, the story is often attributed to French writer Antoine Galland, who claimed a Syrian told him about a boy and a genie in China. This is pretty much the progressive movement in a nutshell. The only question is how to best address this. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 . While Agrabah is apparently described as this melting pot of ethnicities, that concept comes from the deeply-problematic 1992 animated film. TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." 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. 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. 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. Warner Bros. featured a similar warning regarding some of its older cartoons, such as Tom & Jerry, which appeared on Amazon, according to CinemaBlend. / 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. The film and its creators refused to do the work of normalizing and humanizing people of color for American audiences. Otherwise they wouldnt seek to continue to make money off of their offensive, racist creation. 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. members. , with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. Why does 'Aladdin' continue to fascinate after all these years? Aoki, who has worked with Disney-owned ABC in the past as a part of the Asian Pacific American Media Colation, says he has concerns that the language in the disclaimer would not be understandable to a younger audience, likely the biggest demographic for the massive Disney+ library that dates back over eight decades. The sultans palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. did apparently meet with Galland at some point, but it remains unclear how much, if any, of the story came from him. What's going on with the disclaimer on Disney+ before Aladdin? While the voice cast of the 1992 movie was entirely white, the live-action film boasts a diverse cast. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. Is it okay to watch a movie if it includes offensive parts? Credit: Outnow/Alamy. It reads: This program includes 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. Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. 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. Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. Bollywood is an entire industry made up of talents like this and the Middle East has equally as much talent. 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. "Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The films with the updated disclaimer includePeter Pan, Dumbo, Lady andthe Tramp, Fantasia,The Jungle BookandSwiss Family Robinson, among others. 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. 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. 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Aladdin now has a warning on Disney + pic.twitter.com/ZzrX6qHqct Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 16, 2021 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. The new . It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. has been questioned over its casting woes, theyre struggling to wrap up their months-long search, The American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee saw. The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. 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. Disney warns viewers about racist stereotypes in classic films on 5. 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. "Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all." Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. The controversy over Disney's new Aladdin remake, explained - Vox If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. In updating the film and its content, Disney sought advice 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 in the 1992 movie. We just let them know that it is a piece of media from another time, Skorodin says. The original story from November 2019 detailing the original Disney+ content warning is below. 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