film within a month of its release at the box office. "Rather than removing this content, we see an opportunity to spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all." 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. 3. What? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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 1952 version of the story below! How is your familys culture represented in film, television or literature? 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. Santa's Workshop, Three Little Pigs, Clock Cleaners, Fantasia, The Rescuers, Toy Story 2, and a lot more programs are still edited for controversial content. 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. 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. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. 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. You are agreeing to OutKick's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, but don't worry we don't spam. 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. 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. 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.. 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. . Disney is the only media outlet who can show Aladdin. I think of Aladdin as the Robin Williams show. The highly controversial Song of the South (1946) is not available on the streaming service. When played on the Disney+ streaming service, films such as . One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. 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. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. Of any of the big, more modern movies Pocahontas should be the first one with a disclaimer. KEEP READING:Disney+ Rebrands Non-MCU Marvel Films as Marvel Legacy. "Nobody's canceling these movies," he said. See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. Please disregard such warningsand better yet, dont give Disney another dime of your money. Disney+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. Source. ALADDIN: Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! 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. 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. Iconic film critic, Roger Ebert, wrote in his 1992 review: One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, Several representatives of minority advocacy groups spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about their reactions to the Disney+ disclaimer for films such as 1967's 'The Jungle Book' and 1953's 'Peter Pan. The disclaimers are not a signal that the films have been canceled, Ben Mankiewicz, a host on classic TV network TCM, told the Reporter. Just so were clear, Disney made Aladdin. The names Jasmine and Aladdin are both of Middle-Eastern origin, with Aladdin being derived from Arabic while Jasmine has its roots in Persian. 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. 2. 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.". 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. Its either that or the children are rebelling against authority. The page includes a section explaining in greater detail the negative depictions in certain titles. The live-action reveal is a bit of a surprise. The rest of us can FF through that crap, chuckle at it and enjoy the show. As of October 15th, Disney Plus has updated its disclaimer to include a warning that older films may contain harmful stereotypes. Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. It is also important to think about all the improvements the 2019 movie made over the 1992 adaptation (see #3 on this list above!). ", 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.". Even real-life cities are melting pots of different languages, racial and ethnic groups, and religions, just as Agrabah is. 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. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. 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. The Disney drama kicked into higher gear after we saw Dr. Seuss books go from being $5 to $500. to be set somewhere in the Middle East. Archived post. 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,. 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. It may contain outdated cultural depictions" accompany the description of each relevant film on the menu page. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song, Speechless, in which she sings about not allowing men to silence her. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. 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. 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 balcony. Versions of Aladdin from the 19th and well into the 20th centuries depict the main character as culturally Asian, not Arab. The new-and-improved, feminist Jasmine even performs an original song. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. The disclaimer reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. While the movie is set in a city based on Baghdad, Iraq, Aladdin contains aspects of multiple Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. Ultimately, crap like this needs to earn a place for my time and effort based on the marketplace, but until the culture gets steered back toward truth and Capitalism, I can tolerate this silliness. Lets be clear, Disney did harm. RELATED:Disney: COVID Forces Restructure, Puts Greater Focus on Streaming Content. 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. 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. Why is there so little Middle Eastern, Arab or Muslim (or other minority group) representation in film and television? To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit Disney.com/storiesmatter, First off, when did Disney suddenly become a Civil Rights movement? Ron Clements and John Musker, the directors of the 1992 film, that the movie was originally intended to be set in Baghdad, Iraq. 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. Fury of the Gods Special: Shazamily Matters, The Flash Still Shows Best Look Yet at Supergirl's Costume, 25 Years Ago, Michelle Yeoh Starred in James Bond's Most Underrated Movie, 10 Actors Who Have What It Takes To Play Superman In The New DCU. The Aristocats, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and more now have stronger content warnings. 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. Following the Maypolice killing of George Floyd, a Black man, media companies like Sky and HBO Max have pulled content or attached warnings to prejudiced or racist material in their back catalogs, such as Gone With the Wind. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Those disclaimers are now gone in favor of the new message. members. 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. A similar decision was recently made by HBO Max for the classic, yet problematic, film Gone With the Wind. are plenty other streamers out there. Aladdin(1992), which previously did not have a warning, has been added to the list. Disney did not respond toTHRs request for comment. The meetings are held virtually and are very raw according to one attendee. 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. Jinns Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya has said, this is a great opportunity to portray Arab youth in a very unique way. You can also see. Why is it important to have culturally-accurate depictions in film and television? Disney+ should be a dying brandjust like the Grammys. Did watching it ever make you uncomfortable? 2. It reads: This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. Aladdin's racism feels lazy. Why or why not? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. She covers film and TV news and reviews. 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.. Aladdin wasn't asking for a kingdom or riches. 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. Disney holds monthly meetings to determine what content in its archive needs to have a warning added. And overdue., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Boycott threatened over transgender inclusion in Hersheys Womans Day promo, Twitch star zaps herself with shock collar live for 1 million fans, gets banned, JK Rowling showing outstanding moral courage as she stands up to vile woke mob, Artist behind Obamas Hope poster, Shepard Fairey, slams cancel culture. What can you do to be more aware of cultural insensitivity and misrepresentation in pop culture? 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? 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. No. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.. The original story from November 2019 detailing the original Disney+ content warning is below. Was it possible to accurately depict cultural nuances using a fairy tale? The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Jungle Bookreceived a disclaimer, yet its 2003 animated sequel did not. 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. 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). 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. Background characters wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. Aladdin film poster comparison. 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. Don Owens. Weve had some very raw conversations on those Zooms, African American Film Critics Association President Gil Robertson told the Hollywood Reporter. The films with the updated disclaimer includePeter Pan, Dumbo, Lady andthe Tramp, Fantasia,The Jungle BookandSwiss Family Robinson, among others. ', 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 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. 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. And yet, some scholars say the central character could be partly . Disney's policy here is also sketchy considering the sheer amount of content still edited on Disney+. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Aladdin (/ l d n / -LAD-in; Arabic: , Al ud-Dn/ Al ad-Dn, IPA: [ala addin], ATU 561, 'Aladdin') is a Middle-Eastern folk tale.It is one of the best-known tales associated with The Book of One Thousand and One Nights (The Arabian Nights), despite not being part of the original text; it was added by the Frenchman Antoine Galland, based . Growing up, I loved watching Aladdin, just like any other child that enjoyed Disney movies. There are a number of reasons why these titles are removed. a port city that rests on the cusp of Eastern and Western nations, making it a thriving trade town and bringing together a melting pot of cultures and influences. The production designer used Turkish, Persian, and Islamic influences for the set design. Could he overcome the perception that the story was inherently bigoted? If the consensus from those directly harmed is that we need stronger wording you will receive no argument from me. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Whether the new film-makers choose to stand in the old guard or vanguard remains to be seen. Disney films have been a mainstay in many people's childhoods for generations, but some elements of them don't hold up today. "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. 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. 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. As part of Disneys Stories Matter initiatives advisory council, Robertson and his colleagues watch films believed to possibly be problematic and then tell Disney their reaction. To learn more about how stories have impacted society, please visitwww.disney.com/StoriesMatter. , which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. Heck if the salesman is racist, The whole cartoon is. 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. Alan Menken, famed Disney composer, discusses enduring appeal of "Aladdin." The musical visits San Jose this month, with live-action film due in May. No one thats who. That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? 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.. Wouldnt it be reasonable that if all the characters in this movie come from the same genetic stock, they should resemble one another? pic.twitter.com/X9aGjXv97o. Abby Monteil. 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. Rather than removing the offensive content, the company said it hopes to "spark conversation and open dialogue on history that affects us all. 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 Aladdin. 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. Disney is now issuing tougher warnings against racial stereotypes in some of its classic films on its Disney+ streaming service. We've received your submission. Samuel Gelman started at CBR as a news writer in August 2019 before becoming a news editor in November 2019. 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." 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. A lot. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. 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. Credit: Others say that accusations of racism are overwrought. Now only days after his death, the live-action Aladdin remake has been questioned over its casting woes. In Disneys animatedPocahontas, the most striking inaccuracies are her age (she was a child when she met Captain John Smith, according to Encyclopedia Britannica) and there was no real romantic relationship between the two. At the end of the overview, you can also find resources section for further exploration in the classroom. The new content warning, appearing on screen before the movie starts. / CBS News, Disney is adding a disclaimer to some of its old movies that include racist stereotypes, the media giant announced this month. Why does Aladdin have a warning now? 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 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. Bollywood is an entire industry made up of talents like this and the Middle East has equally as much talent. CBS News has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. A content advisory notice for racism in classic Disney films, in place since last year, has been updated with a strengthened message. The sultans palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The company said that while it can't change he past, "we can acknowledge it, learn from it and move forward together.". Nothing else. Panoramic view of Agrabah from the 2019 shows real-seeming landscape featuring buildings with Islamic architecture. The film remains controversial to this day. 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 . Our job is not to get up and say, Heres a movie that you should feel guilty about for liking. But to pretend that the racism in it is not painful and acute? 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. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. 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.
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