Disney has only been all too famous for making wholesome family movies from the rich and colorful fairytales from our childhood throughout the years. They have been responsible for creating animated classics that were and will always be so loved and cherished by children and even their parents.The film Aladdin (1992) was one of these blockbuster movies, with it being the most successful film of that year and having two Academy Awards under its belt. However, it has its own share of issues arising from the apparent depiction of racism in the film. Its Muslim and Arab audience have not been very warm with their reception to the movie, with its careless stereotyping of Arab characters, and certain lyrics from the opening song of the film.The film was about how Aladdin, a street urchin, uses the genie from a lamp to chase after Princess Jasmine’s affections while the dark Vizier Jafar plotted to steal the lamp and get three wishes of his own.
Aladdin’s and Jasmine’s illustrations were Westernized with both of them being modeled after American actors (Michael J. Fox and Tom Cruise for Aladdin, and Jennifer Connelly for Jasmine) and having American accents while the Jafar, the villain, had a more ethnic look with a thicker accent.The setting and the people of Arabia were also depicted as an exotic yet dangerous place with criminals and a poor justice system abound. The lyrics from the opening song “Where they cut off your ears/If they don’t like your face.
/It’s barbaric, but hey, its home” also caused an uproar in Arab countries that prompted Disney to have it changed into “Where it’s flat and immense/ And the heat is intense” in the DVD versions of the movie.Disney might have been a little insensitive about their portrayal of Arab culture, which have caused certain groups to be offended by the film. There are undeniably some racist characteristics in the movie; however, it isn’t really the point and theme of the movie. Aladdin remains a family movie in essence, and while it doesn’t contain ‘Islamophobic’ agenda that will leave an impression on its viewers, it certainly also isn’t wrong to claim that it wasn’t appealing, even insulting, to certain ethnic groups.
White, Timothy , and J.E Winn. "Islam, Animation and Money: the Reception of Disney's Aladdin in Southeast Asia." KINEMA Homepage. 19 Nov. 2002.
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htm>.von Reidemann, Dominic. "Cracked's Racist Disney Characters: The Most Offensive Stereotypes in Disney Films? | Suite101.com.
" Animated Films: Animation, anime, cartoons, computer generated movies, Hollywood news, reviews of upcoming theatre fare, interviews with industry insiders, and blogosphere buzz. | Suite101.com. 4 Dec.
2007. 5 June 2009 <http://animatedfilms.suite101.com/article.cfm/nine_most_racist_disney_chara
