The new statement is more strongly worded than one Disneytacked onto some films when Disney+ first rolled out last year. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. What? 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. 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. 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. CBS News has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. 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. 1. Whether he is giving out comedic moments or being incredibly sincere, he is a perfect character. In Disney's telling of the story, Aladdin is clever, resourceful, and loyal, but underestimated because he is poor. Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. ", clearly implying it's cutting off the hand. 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like the original 1941 Dumbo, The Aristocats, Jungle Book, the 1955 animated Lady and the Tramp all feature the same outdated culturual depictions warning. Disney+ has a huge library of hundreds of movies and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. 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. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. Overall, group representatives say they appreciate efforts made by Disney to recognize outdated cultural depictions while advocating for films likeAladdinor 1995sPocahontasto also receive the disclaimer. 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. 7. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. 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. 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. 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So going forward, several such films on the Disney+ streaming service will include the following advisory: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. 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. Background characters. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". 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. 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. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? Aladdin's racism feels lazy. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, . RELATED:Amazon Prime Video Is Catching up to Netflix While HBO Max Outpaces Disney+ Growth. 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. It may contain outdated cultural depictions" accompany the description of each relevant film on the menu page. 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. "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. "Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all." 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. 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,. Just so were clear, Disney made Aladdin. 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. All rights reserved. The 2019 film also removed several instance of the most egregious racism from the animated film. Is it stereotypical? The original story from November 2019 detailing the original Disney+ content warning is below. He's a young Middle Eastern man and a homeless orphan that . The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. Which iirc got changed to "With winds in the east and the sun from the west, where the sand and the glass is bright". At the end of the overview, you can also find resources section for further exploration in the classroom. Aladdin, which came out in 1992, is a popular movie with fun songs and an interesting plot. 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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. 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. 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. 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. We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. No one thats who. Aladdin film poster comparison. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. You can also see. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. However, the outbreak of the first. Archived post. film within a month of its release at the box office. How is your familys culture represented in film, television or literature? 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. Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 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. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. "Nobody's canceling these movies," he said. 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). 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. / CBS News, Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. , which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. It was even broader than that because we talked about the history of stereotypes and the lack of roles for Asian Americans. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 2. Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. 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. It reads: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. 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. by The new . While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. Bollywood is an entire industry made up of talents like this and the Middle East has equally as much talent. 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. Why is it important to have culturally-accurate depictions in film and television? Disney. Disney+ updated its policy toward its films containing offensive material, postinga new disclaimer and adding new movies to its list of programs that feature"negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.". Why or why not? UPDATE: Disney has updated their content warning on Disney+ to an unskippable, 12-second message in front of controversial movies or shorts. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. 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. 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.. 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. A lot of it is, honestly, hard to tell or point out when you're not part of the group involved. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. There are now more opportunities for people in the United States, and elsewhere, to access regionally-produced entertainment from the Middle East. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, A Thousand and One Nights. Mar 1, 2023. However, experts continued to criticize the soft language used in the old Disney Plus disclaimers. And if you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. 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. Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. 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. In its history, Disney has produced 56 animated movies. 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. Reviews have been mixed but the film has been popular, nonetheless: the. In Richard Burton's telling, the "hero" is shallow, lazy, greedy, and easily. After Mr. that Disney should stop trying to improve stories that are problematic and should leave them in the past, instead focusing on new stories that wont be tainted by previously offensive versions. In "Sleeping Beauty," Prince Phillip kisses Aurora while she's unconscious. Many have referenced the WB. 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. It actually proves how desperate the Neo-Marxists movement is becoming; they cannot win an open, honest debate; they must invoke feelings of collective anger and mistrust to win short term victories. By casting actors of different nationalities and ethnic groups, the movie was able to showcase a wide range of cultures, giving a platform to voices traditionally omitted in Hollywood. 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. Yes, Skorodin says. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. 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 disclaimer reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. 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 only question is how to best address this. 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. Aladdin is not an entertaining Arabian Nights fantasy as film critics would have us believe, wrote Jack Shaheen in 1992, then a professor of mass communications at Southern Illinois University, but rather a painful reminder to 3 million Americans of Arab heritage, as well as 300 million Arabs and others, that the abhorrent Arab stereotype is as ubiquitous as Aladdins lamp.. Please disregard such warningsand better yet, dont give Disney another dime of your money. 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 page includes a section explaining in greater detail the negative depictions in certain titles. Guess Disney isnt that offended after all. 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. Get the Daily OutKick and get smarter every day. For more, Xbox Game Pass Is Having its Best Stretch Ever, Attack on Titan Fans Are Desperately Searching for The Final Season Part 3's First Episode Online, The Flash: The Arrowverse's Red Death Isn't Who We Thought, $30 Million Worth of Funko Products are Being Sent to a Landfill, Atomic Heart Faces Backlash on Multiple Fronts, all the movies and shows on or coming soon to Disney Plus, The Simpsons Hit and Run Designer Wants to See a Remake - IGN Daily Fix. in the 1992 movie. 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 the studios struggle. Providing warning labels to minorities like myself does nothing to protect or encourage us in society. 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. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. 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. Background characters wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. As of October 15th, Disney Plus has updated its disclaimer to include a warning that older films may contain harmful stereotypes. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. In addition to those older films, it's also included at the start of "Aladdin," the animated blockbuster from 1992. 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. That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? 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. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. Don Owens. Heres a version of that warning, which is notably more in-depth than the one-sentence warning that Disney has implemented. 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. The company said that while. Whether the new film-makers choose to stand in the old guard or vanguard remains to be seen. You can also see our lesson plan on exploring stereotypes with American film and television, which offers guided activities for your students. A similar decision was recently made by HBO Max for the classic, yet problematic, film Gone With the Wind. 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.
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