DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. I am cynical by nature. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. 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. Disney+ should be a dying brandjust like the Grammys. 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. Many have referenced the WB. Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. Several representatives of minority advocacy groups spoke withThe Hollywood Reporterabout their reactions to the Disney+ disclaimer and what, if any, extra measures can be enacted by Disney to caution viewers of culturally insensitive material. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? Why does Aladdin have a warning before it? So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Is it okay to watch a movie if it includes offensive parts? Don Owens. The film remains controversial to this day. 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. Guiver makes points to show that Aladdin is the only character next to his Disney contemporaries who doesn't have this particular anatomy, but actually, Disney has somewhat of a reputation when . 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. 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. 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.. Thedisclaimerappears with some animated Disney classics such as 1967sThe Jungle Bookand 1953sPeter Pan,offering caution to viewers of racist and culturally insensitive depictions and references in the plots and characters of those movies. Most recently, The Muppet Show had warning disclaimers placed prior to 18 of its episodes, warning viewers that the show features stereotypes and mistreatment of people or 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, the disclaimer says, adding Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.. In the examples below, the illustration of Aladdin on the left, circa 1930 by an unknown artist, (Credit: Getty Images/Hulton Archive), and the illustration on the right from the early 20th century (Credit: Alamy), both clearly depict Asian clothing and settings. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. It can also be argued that outrage about Naomi Scott is invalid, given the. 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. Rather, the story was often presented as a hybrid tale of the exoticized Orient meeting modern English-language styles and fashions,. The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a press release earlier this week asking reviewers and critics to acknowledge that the "Aladdin myth is rooted by racism, Orientalism and. These animated films teach us so much, and especially young kids, Ghanizada says. Source. ', 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 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. 8. 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. "Disney could have used stronger language, which would more proactively invite a conversation around the context of these caricatures," Swinburne University of Technology film and TV lecturer Jessica Balanzategui told CNET in June. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. This isnt the first time that Disney has been criticised in relation to Aladdin. The decision to attach this message to some animated films was met with both praise from people who viewed it as an accountability measure and criticism from those who thought its wording was. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visit. It is also important to think about all the improvements the 2019 movie made over the 1992 adaptation (see #3 on this list above!). 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. 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. 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. While he is technically only a sidekick character, he has a huge part to play in the film. A subreddit to help you keep up to date with what's going on with reddit and other stuff. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home". The new statement is more strongly worded than one Disneytacked onto some films when Disney+ first rolled out last year. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The line you're thinking of is "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. 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. 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. 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. Theyre unqualified, and its time for minorities in this country to start ignoring these major corporations that stunt double as our parents. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Please disregard such warningsand better yet, dont give Disney another dime of your money. 13 Comments. 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. I think you might be right. 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. The movie itself never explicitly states where in the real world the story is taking place, so all fans can do is speculate. 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. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins big at SAG Awards, HBO's "Succession" will end with season 4, creator says, Richard Belzer, comedian and "Law & Order: SVU" actor, dies at 78, "The Last of Us" creator Neil Druckmann on the series' success, Ryan Seacrest leaving "Live"; Kelly Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos, to step in. If anything it highlighted overcoming a class struggle but I guess Marxism has mutated to race and gender now. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This applies to classics such as Dumbo and Aladdin, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. She covers film and TV news and reviews. Why does Aladdin have a warning now? , with $232.4 million domestic and $372.5 million international for the musical remake. All the latest gaming news, game reviews and trailers. We can therefore assume that Genie only focused on making Aladdin a prince so that he could have a shot with Jasmine. Some were alarmed by the films stereotypes and generalizations about Arabs and the Middle East. Get the Daily OutKick and get smarter every day. After Mr. Top row shows the 1992 animated cast while below are the actors used in the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin. 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. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. by But I've realized how problematic Aladdin's character is. To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit Disney.com/storiesmatter, First off, when did Disney suddenly become a Civil Rights movement? 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. Jasmine was also given a more complex plot line in the new adaptation. Credit: Outnow/Alamy. As a matter of fact, it only makes us feel like we should start becoming filmmakers and replace those who have anointed themselves as our leaders. , Aladdin sport[ed] a Manchurian queue and Chinese slippers, and the architecture feature[ed] distinctly Chinese pagodas. The emphasis on the Chinese aspects of, during this time period through the use of , (the imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art) was especially popular.