October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM Yet, they and their media family, (like ESPN) are always the first in line seeking to cancel anything that remotely upsets them. Disney also puts silly, PC warning labels before much of its back catalog of films. Previously, Disney had the line "This program is presented as originally created. Disney+ wants to say theyre focused on inspirational themes while half the children in Disney films have dead parents. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." Ian Skorodin, director of strategy and outreach for the Barcid Foundation (a Native American non-profit organization), adds that it is unfortunate thatPocahontas did not receive a disclaimer. But just which films and shows meet the criteria for the disclaimer is not clear. Ghanizada notes a2015 Public Policy Pollin which one-third of Republican primary voters supported bombing the fictional kingdom of Agrabah, the setting ofAladdin. to be set somewhere in the Middle East. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. I think you might be right. On " Fixer to Fabulous ," Dave and Jenny Marrs have been doing many remarkable remodels around Bentonville, AR but that's not to say we agree with all of their design . TheStories Matter website that is referenced in the disclaimer features more information about Disney's efforts to increase "cultural competency." To learn more about how stories have impacted society visit: www.Disney.com/StoriesMatter.". Aladdin does trick the Genie into freeing him from the Cave of Wonders without using a wish. 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? Please disregard such warningsand better yet, dont give Disney another dime of your money. 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 . members. 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.. "These shouldn't be watched by children by themselves," Daryl Sparkes, senior lecturer of media studies and production at the University of Southern Queensland, told CNET, "because children are like little sponges and they soak up attitudes and feelings and opinions.". The page includes a section explaining in greater detail the negative depictions in certain titles. Source. 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. 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. They want to make up for any offensive messaging they may have been a part of, Robertson told the publication. A content advisory notice for racism in classic Disney films, in place since last year, has been updated with a strengthened message. Disney+ should be a dying brandjust like the Grammys. 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. Answer: A lot of older movies (god I hate calling movies from the 90's "older") include often passive stereotypes or themes about minority groups that while may not have been intentionally harmful, still perpetuate potentially harmful or offensive ideas about a culture or location. It is also important to think about all the improvements the 2019 movie made over the 1992 adaptation (see #3 on this list above!). 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. That, and the story is loosely rooted in One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Easter folk tales. 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,. The only question is how to best address this. Background characters wear clothing from a wide array of cultures, including Afghan payraans, Indian saris, Omani daggers, and turbans from multiple cultures. I understand Peter Pan and Dumbo but why Aladdin? He covers basketball and baseball for OutKick.com, chats with the Purple and Gold faithful on LakersNation, and shitposts on Twitter. Agrabah is a made up place thats a combo of a few different cultures. The new . See some of the major differences between the films in this chart designed by our summer interns. The line you're thinking of is "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. RELATED:Disney: COVID Forces Restructure, Puts Greater Focus on Streaming Content. 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. Iconic film critic, Roger Ebert, wrote in his 1992 review: One distraction during the film was its odd use of ethnic stereotypes. Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe. Aladdin now has a warning on Disney + pic.twitter.com/ZzrX6qHqct Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 16, 2021 Why does Aladdin have a warning now? The well-loved soundtrack for the 1992 animation - A Whole New World notably won Disney an Academy Award, along with another Oscar for the entire score - is actually an edited version of the one that was heard in cinemas. This is pretty much the progressive movement in a nutshell. Top row shows the 1992 animated cast while below are the actors used in the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin. Aladdin film poster comparison. DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. UPDATE: Disney has updated their content warning on Disney+ to an unskippable, 12-second message in front of controversial movies or shorts. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. 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.. This supports the idea that Genie only changes Aladdin's appearance, which he also indirectly confirms a few lines later: But maybe thats the issue that Disney and other major corporations cant seem to understand. for Aladdin, or see the movie in theaters now, and make your own conclusions. The new disclaimer appears on screen before the start of movies like Aladdin, The Aristocats, Dumbo, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, Swiss Family Robinson and The Three Caballeros. So much so that Disney+ added a warning label before the film starts. Throughout the Victorian era, Aladdin sport[ed] a Manchurian queue and Chinese slippers, and the architecture feature[ed] distinctly Chinese pagodas. The emphasis on the Chinese aspects of Aladdin during this time period through the use of chinoiserie (the imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art) was especially popular. It just reminds me of apu from the simpsons, where they got such a backlash that the voice actor now quit doing his voice. Why is there so little Middle Eastern, Arab or Muslim (or other minority group) representation in film and television? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. 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. In the 2019 film, Agrabah is 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. Today, Disneys new content, as well as all its properties, now pushes a radical, left-wing agenda harmful to children and the nuclear family. ", 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.". 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. Back in 1992, Shaheen cited cable television and videocassettes as making it easy for stereotypes to travel far and wide. Furthermore, these advisors helped ensure that any Arabic-language text was correctly displayed and that the setting and dress were more culturally realistic. The song Arabian Nights, 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. in the 1992 movie. notions of Oriental interchangeability, pointing to the fact that name Jasmine has Persian roots, not Indian. Weve had some very raw conversations on those Zooms, African American Film Critics Association President Gil Robertson told the Hollywood Reporter. Its a complete waste of time for our children who will eventually become whining Disney adults. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. The crows in Dumbo. As mentioned above, the original, one of many films released as part of the, 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. For The Lone Ranger specifically,Skyhawk explained Johnny Depp taking on the role of Tonto, described as a spirit warrior from the Comanche tribe, was offensive casting resulting in an offensive character. It protects the filmmaker from feedback. The sultan's palace in Aladdin, left, and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. 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. Probably some more stuff political invorrect stuff while they show how the people act in town, depicting the way they act in a negative way? First published on October 19, 2020 / 11:46 AM. Yunioshi., We had several people from MANAA talking about the concerns of yellowface and what was wrong with Mickey Rooneys portrayal, he adds. 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. Aoki believes it should specifically note what the issue of each film is, rather than offering up an ambiguous line. Gary Sheffield, Jr Original cartoon versions of movies such as Dumbo, The Jungle Book . 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Disney. Aladdin never had a content warning until now, but the edited version has always been on Disney+. Background characters. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as "redskins," an offensive term. The new content warning, appearing on screen before the movie starts. Itwould be great if Disney did it across the board for all of their older cartoons that may be a little insensitive., Guy Aoki, co-founder of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), sayshe has never seen 1992sAladdinhimself, but he was friends with Don Bustany, president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and late deejay Casey Kasem, who were a part of a successful campaign to change problematic lyrics inAladdins introductory song Arabian Nights., They had meetings to talk about their concerns about how it was stereotyping Arab culture and how they wanted to get one line of the song changed, recalls Aoki. 1. On a different note, Disney has actually restored Saludos Amigos on Disney+. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. This isnt the first time that Disney has been criticised in relation to Aladdin. While Agrabah is apparently described as this melting pot of ethnicities, that concept comes from the deeply-problematic 1992 animated film. Nobodys canceling these movies, he said. , which tells the story of an affable street-urchin who accepts the services of a trickster genie to win over the sultans daughter, Jasmine. Become a home entertainment expert with our handpicked tips, reviews and deals. While the voice cast of the 1992 movie was entirely white, the live-action film boasts a diverse cast. Since Disney is so horrified of its own movie, perhaps they should return the hundreds of millions of dollars they made off it. Twenty-seven years ago, Disneys animated version of. The highly controversial Song of the South (1946) is not available on the streaming service. 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. 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. That Disney talent agents are pedophiles/child molesters? Disney+ updated its offensive content disclaimer for films such as Aladdin, Peter Pan and Dumbo. 2. And welcomed. For more information, please see our As of October 15th, Disney Plus has updated its disclaimer to include a warning that older films may contain harmful stereotypes. 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. You can also see. 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. 2. 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." New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Abby Monteil. 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. Im pretty sure during the 60s all the way up to the 90s cutting off the hands of thieves was an actual punishment in sharia law.So its not racist to point out a system of law - dictated by a book - in the part of the world it directly influenced and thus gave inspiration for a fictional versionagrabah. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Less well known is the fact that the film sparked a racial controversy, one that is still reverberating today. The decision to introduce the disclaimer came after a consultation with a group of independent experts, who review how media portrays underrepresented groups and advocate for more thoughtful solutions. 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. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. 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.