The Aladdin controversy Disney can't escape - BBC Culture Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. in the new adaptation. First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. 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. 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. Since Disney Plus launched last November, experts have criticized the soft language used in its disclaimer on older titles like 1941's Dumbo, that warned films "may contain outdated cultural depictions.". Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Disney Plus tries again to address racist stereotypes in old films 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. The disclaimer reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 new message plays before all of the listed films for about 10 seconds and cannot be skipped or fast-forwarded. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. Those disclaimers are now gone in favor of the new message. Jennifer Bisset is a Senior Editor for CNET. Top ten things you didn't know about Aladdin - Culture The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group. 4. Who should tell stories of other places? 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. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. 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. These animated films teach us so much, and especially young kids, Ghanizada says. Of all Disney films, Song of the South has been perhaps criticized the most thanks to its depiction of African slaves. Was the Original Aladdin Story Inspired by a Real Person? | Time , earning over $346 million in worldwide box office revenue. Hang tough The controversy over Disney's new Aladdin remake, explained - Vox Disney+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. 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. "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures," the statement reads. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. 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. This thread is archived 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. You are agreeing to OutKick's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, but don't worry we don't spam. This is pretty much the progressive movement in a nutshell. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. Most people consider Aladdin to be set somewhere in the Middle East. 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,. 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.. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. Disney's Aladdin Is Racist - Affinity Magazine 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. 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 only question is how to best address this. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. 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. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. This week saw the death of Dr Jack Shaheen, one of the most respected and loudest critics of the vilification of Arabs in Hollywood, who successfully campaigned for offensive lyrics to be changed in the original Aladdin soundtrack. Disney Plus adds content warning to animated movies criticized as Does the Genie trick Aladdin with the third wish? 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 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. 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. "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. 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. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? Aladdin wasn't asking for a kingdom or riches. This was inevitable. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. 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. Everything That's Been Removed From Disney+ In The United States Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. How do you feel about Aladdin? 17 Problematic Things in Disney Movies That Have Not Aged Well - Insider Background characters wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. 13 Comments. Creating a diverse and primarily non-white cast for the film was a huge step in accurately portraying a land set in the Middle East and moving towards greater diversity in Hollywood. 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. 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. There are a number of reasons why these titles are removed. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? All Rights Reserved. Mar 1, 2023. Disney updates content warning for racism in classic films - BBC While Agrabah is apparently described as this melting pot of ethnicities, that concept comes from the deeply-problematic 1992 animated film. 1. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit Disney.com/storiesmatter, First off, when did Disney suddenly become a Civil Rights movement? Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? Disney Plus disclaimer now acknowledges 'harmful impact' of - CNET Supporters of the movie point to the fact that Agrabah, despite being supposedly based on an actual city. Nearly a year later, on Thursday, Disney said that after consulting with a council of organizations representing minorities, it's added a new disclaimer acknowledging the "harmful impact" of. March 16, 2021, 12:54 pmupdated March 16, 2021, 1:46 pm Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? . A lot of it is, honestly, hard to tell or point out when you're not part of the group involved. Disney warns viewers about racist stereotypes in classic films on 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. 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 live-action reveal is a bit of a surprise. ', 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. and our Disney+ has a huge library of hundreds of movies and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. alternate lyrics were dubbed into the video and soundtrack releases. But its good that Disney is protecting the world from what they have deemed racist Middle Eastern tropes invented by none other than people from the Middle East. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. Don Owens. ', 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.. The movie that inspired her to want a career in film is Lost in Translation. Background characters. 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. Aladdin Racist Disney Movie Arab Portrayal Controversy - Refinery29 KEEP READING:Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy. , in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. 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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. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. ORIGINAL STORY: Disney Plus is officially out in the wild now, and while it features a ton of new movies and shows like The Mandalorian, a Lady and the Tramp remake, and Jeff Goldblum, users are noticing that some older content is coming with an outdated cultural depictions warning. 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. 'Aladdin' Now Has A Warning Screen On Disney+ - OutKick If the consensus from those directly harmed is that we need stronger wording you will receive no argument from me. Pocahontas was staight full of lies and racial slurs. Weve had some very raw conversations on those Zooms, African American Film Critics Association President Gil Robertson told the Hollywood Reporter. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I cant wait until Disney finally puts a warning label on their films portraying marriage like the fantasy that its never been. The film is an adaptation of a folktale from the 18th-century, Arabic-language collection, . They want to make up for any offensive messaging they may have been a part of, Robertson told the publication. And yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . Iconic film critic, Roger Ebert, wrote in his 1992 review: One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. Rather, the story was often presented as a hybrid tale of the exoticized Orient meeting modern English-language styles and fashions,. ", Disney said the decision is part of its "ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion." 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. No. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. It was even broader than that because we talked about the history of stereotypes and the lack of roles for Asian Americans. , with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. 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.. 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. 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. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. In Disney's telling of the story, Aladdin is clever, resourceful, and loyal, but underestimated because he is poor. Fantasy worlds are not meant to perfectly align with real-life racial boundaries. Here are 5: Dumbo (1941): Contains a scene of a group of cigar-smoking crows, with their leader named Jim Crow, referring to the racist segregation laws of the South, and voiced by a white actor . Proponents of the film also encourage focusing on the great strides the 2019 film made in being more diverse and inclusive. Jasmine's mother is barely a thought in the 1992 animated movie. 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. Please disregard such warningsand better yet, dont give Disney another dime of your money. 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. However, the outbreak of the first. Why is it important to have culturally-accurate depictions in film and television? Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.". Screen capture from, In May 2019, Disney released a live-action version of. Disney+ "Outdated Cultural Depictions" Disclaimer Raises Questions, Say 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. 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. It reads: "This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. 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. After Shaheen protested against the film alongside the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Disney agreed to alter the lyrics in Arabian Nights for Aladdin's video release in 1993, and defended it, as it was a rare film to feature an Arab hero and heroine. 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. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit. 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. Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. Reimagining the Middle East: Grassroots Movements, Arab American Heritage Month Resource Guide, wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, allegedly darkening the skin of white actors and crew, Middle Eastern critic Maha Albadrawi says. Otherwise they wouldnt seek to continue to make money off of their offensive, racist creation. 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. Some were alarmed by the films stereotypes and generalizations about Arabs and the Middle East. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. However, experts continued to criticize the soft language used in the old Disney Plus disclaimers. I think of Aladdin as the Robin Williams show. 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. 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. How Disney decides which content gets 'offensive' disclaimer Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. 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. We coulda sworn we went to Disneyland and waited in line for two hours to be entertainednot for an education.. The Disney drama kicked into higher gear after we saw Dr. Seuss books go from being $5 to $500. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The full cigarette scene is now there at the 24:00 mark for anybody who is curious. That is even more important in an era of mass media, all-you-can-watch online streaming. ThePeter Panentry reads: The film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions. The original movie contains a scene of Goofy smoking a cigarette that was previously edited on Disney+. 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. Something like this is surely the reason they put it afront of the video, just to be safe. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? Abby Monteil. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. Disney holds monthly meetings to determine what content in its archive needs to have a warning added. 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." 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). Outrage flared again when Disney announced that they had cast white actor Billy Magnussen in a newly-created role of a Scandinavian prince vying for Jasmines attention. 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.. It also includes specific examples from several films of scenes and charactersthat the company now deems inappropriate. We talked to people at Disney about that depiction I said there are probably a hundred [Native] people of that caliber that can do that and yet youre going to try and force Johnny Depp down our throat, says Skyhawk.
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