Disney's Aladdin was released in 1992. I was five. It was, and still is, one of my favorite movies. A story of adventure, heroism, and love, the audience follows Aladdin on his journey from "street rat" to prince. Set in the mythical Agrabah, we are introduced to a myriad of characters, all seemingly out to get the "worthless" Aladdin. But then, he meets Jasmine and everything changes. The two instantly fall in love and bond over the fact that they both want different lives for themselves. As the story continues we meet the evil Jafar, the comedic Genie, and the seemingly oblivious Sultan, all of who either help or hinder Aladdin's quest to win over Princess Jasmine. In the end, of course, Jafar is banished, Aladdin is given his princely title, the Genie is granted freedom, and, most importantly, Aladdin and Jasmine live happily ever after.
Sounds like a simple story, right? Wrong. While this may be the general premise of the story, the movie features many kinds of racial stereotypes, violence, verbal bullying, and eroticized women.
Let me quickly define a few terms before I continue (all definitions come from the New Oxford American Dictionary).
dehumanization - deprive of positive human qualities
villain - person guilty or capable of a crime
eroticized women - women with erotic (sexual) qualities
ignorant - lacking knowledge of awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated
amoral - lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something
General Analysis:
Few things about this movie are not stereotypical. When you think of an Arabic man or woman, what images come to mind? Open deserts, turbans, face veils, heavy accents, strict and menacing personalities, and a "mess with me and you'll be sorry" attitude. At least this is what we've seen in the movies. Aladdin is no different.
From the music to the architecture, the characters to the style of clothing, everything is represented in a way that meets every stereotype you've ever heard or imagined. Almost everything -- at least we are spared the "terrorist" label.
The opening scene alone sets the stage for what's to come. Following a small, dark-skinned man wearing a turban and riding a camel through the desert, we hear him singing, with an accent, of a "barbaric" land "Arabian nights."
This first song has changed since its original release. Previously, the man sang of a place "where they cut of your ear if they don't like your face," and now he sings of a place "where its flat and immense and the heat is intense." Was this a nod to political correctness? Who wants to be known as always aggressive and willing to cut any passersby?
Throughout the movie, even the minor characters on the street are misrepresented. All dressed and stylized to look "traditionally Arabic" with harem pants and dark hair, they are shown as entertainers. Perhaps a subtle nod to the way that real Arabic actors are represented in American movies - as the comedic, unusual form of entertainment.
Perhaps the most overly exaggerated quality, though, is seen in their attitudes, particularly the guards. They are portrayed as ignorant and unable to think for themselves, are extremely aggressive, and ready to fight at every turn. They name call and bully, throw swords and food, and are constantly scowling. They wear turbans, harem pants, and speak with heavy accents. Their dark eyebrows and hooked noses are also based on stereotypical ideas.
This heightened aggression can also be seen in one of the market vendors. The minute he realizes that Jasmine cannot afford the apple she's just given away, he grabs her arm and pulls out a sword.
Other details that are based on stereotypes or that are meant to reference Arabic culture include the praise of Allah, the hookahs displayed in the castle, and sold by vendors at the market, the mentioning of baklava and hummus, and the use of Arabic writing.
Character Analysis:
Every character in the movie is depicted with dark hair, tan skin (at a minimum, some are darker than others), and the stereotypical idea for clothing (the men wear turbans or fez hats and almost all have some facial hair, except Alladin who is meant to be different, and the women wear face veils).
Aladdin is given all of the right "good guy" traits: bravery, a sense of humor, loyalty, and strength. He does seem to have a few amoral tendencies though. Remember, we meet Aladdin for the first time as he is stealing bread and despite the fact that he later gives this bread to a pair of homeless children, he's back at his thievery the next morning. This theft, though, seems to be his only amoral quality. Other than that, he seems educated (despite raising himself on the streets of Agrabah) and kind hearted. Perhaps his strongest difference, though, is his accent. He lacks the heavy, fake accents the majority of the other characters do.
Jasmine also lacks any hint of an accent, despite being the princess and understood to have been raised in Agrabah, as well. Jasmine's downfall is her eroticized image. A cropped and revealing top and stylish harem pants that, at times, she uses to her advantage playing up her sultry voice and walking with a little extra swing in her hips.
Later in the movie, when she becomes Jafar's prisoner, her image is even more sexualized. Her outfit goes from teal to red, a color often used to represent passion and love. She even kisses Jafar as a distraction. The idea that less clothing and a little hip swing can make our dreams come true is not the message Disney should be selling children.
And Jasmine is not the only eroticized woman in this movie, there are over twenty-five minor roles characterized by these sheer, barely there clothes wearing females.
Jafar, without a doubt, receives the worst of the personality traits. While no Disney movie would be complete without a villain, Jafar also brings out the worst types of Arabic misperceptions. Amoral and dehumanized, he is ruthless, power hungry, and, of course, given an accent (like all of the "bad guys" in this movie).
The Sultan fulfills the "ignorant" portion of the stereotype. Despite his seemingly educated background, he appears clueless to his surroundings and prefers to get lost in amusement from his toys, trinkets, and rides on the magic carpet. He allows Jafar to make all of his major decisions instead of forming an opinion on his own (even though a lot of times he is under Jafar's spell, the audience is not given any proof that he would make different decisions either way).
Violence:
While I have already discussed the overly exaggerated violent tendencies of particular characters, there is also less evident violence seen, and heard, in Aladdin. Perhaps the most prominent would be the use of name calling.
Aladdin is referred to as a scoundrel, a vandal, riff-raff, and a street rat at least twenty times. He is also called worthless.
Other terms, such as crazy, fool, dumb, nuts, and psychopath are also used in describing various characters.
Violent imagery is also apparent. Aladdin alone is captured, drowned, and banished. Jasmine and the Sultan are tortured and Jasmine is also threatened more than once with either a sword or a hand. Also, the two homeless children seen early on are threatened with a whip.
Verbally, the characters mention jumping off a balcony, dropping off a cliff, and ripping someone else open.
The most violence can probably be seen in one of the opening numbers. Aladdin is running from the guards, trying to avoid being caught for stealing.
Conclusion:
While the basic plot and story are classic traits to any Disney movie, the representations are wrong and in hurtful to the people they are supposed to be portraying. As a child, this may be the first time to view an Arabic culture. Children are impressionable. If we agree with the modeling theory, children may try these name-calling and violent ways after seeing Aladdin. Further more, according to Cultivation theory, they could be forming a misguided worldview of Arabs and Arabic culture.
