Does Disney's Aladdin create an offensive construction of the Arab culture through generic western stereotypes of the east?
Evidence such as the change in original lyrics of Arabian nights, the way Jasmine is portrayed and also through the characters themselves (skin tone & facial features) could suggest an offensive portrayal of the Arab culture.
Is this accurate to suggest?
I would consider more accurate saying that people have gotten kinda touchy...
shareIt's interesting you never hear such complaints about how French people and culture are portrayed in Beauty and the Beast or other movies that take place in Europe. I agree with the other poster, people are too touchy.
shareThat's because they're usually white people. They have stereotypes but they're never used to be discriminated against like people of color do.
shareThat's because they're usually white people. They have stereotypes but they're never used to be discriminated against like people of color do.
Same.
sharethrough the characters themselves (skin tone & facial features)
I don't care.
shareI'm not offended.
I just think the writers and animators should have taken a trip to the middle east to see what it actually looks like, rather than relying on movie cliches.
In fact, that's exactly what they did with Mulan.
I'm glad Aladdin's fantasy kingdom of Agrabah is nothing like the Middle East of today. The Middle East is a joyless, dry (not just in a literal sense) and depressing. And yes, I've actually been there, in Saudi Arabia.
If anything, Aladdin's portrayal of Arabic culture is the opposite of offensive.
the way Jasmine is portrayed
Would you please elaborate this one? What is wrong with the way Jasmine is portrayed?I think he's talking about if the movie was accurate to the middleeast. Jasmine would most likely be wearing middleeastern type of garment. I don't think Middleeasterns would take too kindly to a woman especially a Princess wearing that two piece that Jasmine is wearing in the film. They are a very modest people especially when it comes to showing skin.
The main issue is that she is dressed like a harem girl, not a princess.
If you're happy and you know it, go sit in the corner and think about your life.
Technically, Jasmine would've lived in the women's quarters, called the harem. But she was more dressed like a belly dancer. Although there was a time that women in the harem enjoyed quite a lot of freedom, I doubt they dressed like that.
shareYeah, it is weird that they had Jasmine reveal so much skin. It is like someone was more concerned with showing us how sexy she was than with historical accuracy.
Intelligence and purity.
Yea if this were truly accurate Jasmine would have been stoned to death for dressing that way.
shareNo. But then it is made by Americans so therefore anybody from that part of the world would be offended by it. Frankly I think a movie that is somewhat offensive to Arabs is True Lies but it doesn't bother me that much. But it was made before Islamic Terrorism was as big of a thing as it is now.
Green Goblin is great! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1L4ZuaVvaw
No, it is not offensive. It is a disney animated movie and not a documentary. Jasmine's clothes were chosen because they are pretty. I was a little girl when Aladdin came out. Loved it and thought "oh she is pretty! Her outfit is so cool!". It is not a documentary and one of the main characters is a genie (they do not exist) and a talking bird. Yeah, I think we will all survive, lol. No one should look to disney for realism. Its entertainment. As another poster said, no one gets up in arms dissecting whether or not Beauty and the Beast was true enough to France and French culture.
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