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and our Get the Daily OutKick and get smarter every day. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. 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. And if you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. It would be helpful if they were more specific as to whats the problem because I think people can learn from this, he says. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? 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. Of all Disney films, Song of the South has been perhaps criticized the most thanks to its depiction of African slaves. The company said that while it can't change he past, "we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together.". 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. 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. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. While the movie is set in a city based on Baghdad, Iraq, Aladdin contains aspects of multiple Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. 2. Is it inaccurate? We've received your submission. 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. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. Whether the new film-makers choose to stand in the old guard or vanguard remains to be seen. 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. 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. 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.. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. 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. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? Aoki believes it should specifically note what the issue of each film is, rather than offering up an ambiguous line. Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. 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. Jennifer Bisset is a Senior Editor for CNET. 2. But they will not stop playing Aladdin. Aladdin is one of the greatest animated movies of all time and one of the main reasons behind that is the Genie character. I do not want to shy away from that. 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. Disney+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. 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. 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." If the consensus from those directly harmed is that we need stronger wording you will receive no argument from me. Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. 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. Disney also removed the "This program is presented as originally created" description from Saludos Amigos, which is funny because now the movie is actually presented as originally created. In addition to those older films, it's also included at the start of "Aladdin," the animated blockbuster from 1992. 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. Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. 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 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. 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 Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group. RELATED:Disney: COVID Forces Restructure, Puts Greater Focus on Streaming Content. 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. The rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. 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. 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. Disney+ should be a dying brandjust like the Grammys. Jasmine can be seen wearing one of her mother's bracelets in the live-action movie. 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. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit Disney.com/storiesmatter, First off, when did Disney suddenly become a Civil Rights movement? It just reminds me of apu from the simpsons, where they got such a backlash that the voice actor now quit doing his voice. 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. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. 7. 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. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. Disney Plus disclaimer now acknowledges 'harmful impact' of - CNET 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. 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. In Richard Burton's telling, the "hero" is shallow, lazy, greedy, and easily. 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. Gary Sheffield, Jr 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. 'Aladdin' Reveals What Happened to Jasmine's Mother - Insider Aladdin now has a warning on Disney + pic.twitter.com/ZzrX6qHqct Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 16, 2021 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. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. 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." 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. 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. However, when Aladdin points this out, the Genie insists Aladdin cannot have any more free wishes: GENIE: (Still as stewardess) Thank you for choosing Magic Carpet for all your travel needs. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? Theyre unqualified, and its time for minorities in this country to start ignoring these major corporations that stunt double as our parents. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. 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. Disney updates content warning for racism in classic films - BBC 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? Those disclaimers are now gone in favor of the new message. Some accused Disney of reinforcing notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. 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. Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer:" (or "question:" if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask). 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. The one thing you probably didn't notice about Disney dudes' chests Aladdin's racism feels lazy. Disney also came under fire for allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew members. 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 meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. Disney Plus tries again to address racist stereotypes in old films 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. for Aladdin, or see the movie in theaters now, and make your own conclusions. Overall, group representatives say they appreciate efforts made by Disney to recognize outdated cultural depictions while advocating for films likeAladdinor 1995sPocahontasto also receive the disclaimer. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. When the Genie turned Aladdin into "Prince Ali", what exactly did that 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. 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. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The Aristocats, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and more now have stronger content warnings. 5 Things to Know About Aladdin - TeachMideast Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. 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. Mar 1, 2023. , in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. Source. The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. 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. Rather, the story was often presented as a hybrid tale of the exoticized Orient meeting modern English-language styles and fashions,. to be set somewhere in the Middle East. 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. This thread is archived Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? 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. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. 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. Aladdin never had a content warning until now, but the edited version has always been on Disney+. Ditch Disney plus there. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 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Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? A lot of it is, honestly, hard to tell or point out when you're not part of the group involved. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. Yes, Skorodin says. Disney Plus adds content warning to animated movies criticized as Delivered Wednesdays. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 'Aladdin' Among Films Given Content Warnings - Inside the Magic A similar decision was recently made by HBO Max for the classic, yet problematic, film Gone With the Wind. 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.. I think you might be right. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. 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. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Disney's Aladdin Is Racist - Affinity Magazine Authenticity was not a major consideration. It reads: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. "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. ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." Nothing else. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. In Disney's telling of the story, Aladdin is clever, resourceful, and loyal, but underestimated because he is poor. He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Sky adds 'outdated attitudes' disclaimer to some classic films Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? Edit: forgot to write "answer", so i copypasted my original vomment. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Credit: , 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. Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. (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. 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. 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. 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. The original story from November 2019 detailing the original Disney+ content warning is below. How do you feel about Aladdin? Disney+ Updates Offensive Content Disclaimer for Aladdin, Peter - CBR 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. I think of Aladdin as the Robin Williams show. After Mr. The level of authenticity Netflix is trying to achieve with this show is definitely what attracted me the most to be part of this project.. 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. Privacy Policy. At that time, it simply noted, "This program is presented as originally created. Aladdin Racist Disney Movie Arab Portrayal Controversy - Refinery29 The company said that while. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, A Thousand and One Nights. How do you feel about Aladdin? When played on the Disney+ streaming service, films such as . 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. . on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. Pray tell who is offended by Aladdin? 5. Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. 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.. Alladin quotes? - Memes Feel 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. What can you do to be more aware of cultural insensitivity and misrepresentation in pop culture? Why or why not? If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Bias/Anecdote: While I can't remember too much about Aladdin specifically that might call for this (the changed line about cutting off your hand during the opening theme comes to mind, but that's already been removed), the overall tone plays on a great deal of stereotype tropes for Middle-Eastern cultures that aren't really that accurate or true, or are at least heavily exaggerated. But out of all those movies, there are only a handful that have managed to truly capture the hearts of audiences. Which iirc got changed to "With winds in the east and the sun from the west, where the sand and the glass is bright". For more information, please see our The only question is how to best address this. 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. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." Guess Disney isnt that offended after all. ALADDIN: Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! 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. Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. Why does 'Aladdin' continue to fascinate after all these years? 6. ", 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.". 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. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. Just so were clear, Disney made 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. 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.