Is Aladdin The Movie Racist?
Essay Preview: Is Aladdin The Movie Racist?
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Summary Of Movie: Aladdin is set in the fictional Islamic town of Agrabah. The movie focuses on a peasant named Aladdin. Aladdin falls in love with the princess of the town, Jasmine. Jasmine is independent and Aladdin doesnt understand how to be himself. However, there is a law that Jasmine can only marry someone who is part of the royal family. One day, Aladdin finds a lamp, rubs it, and release Genie. Genie is fun and happy and gives Aladdin three wishes. Aladdin asks to be turned into a prince, and Genie does it. But, there is a sorcerer named Jafar who wants the power of Genies lamp also. Aladdin does not how to defeat them and gain Jasmines heart, but eventually he realizes he must be himself. He doesnt know how to do it without the help of Genie. But, at the end Aladdin finally learns how to do it.
Arab/Muslim Portrayal: Muslims are portrayed very differently than they should be in the movie Aladdin and someone would learn many wrong things from this movie. First, they are portrayed as having perfect American accents, which is completely wrong. Aladdin does not show how a true Muslim would speak. They talk with perfect English because Disney was trying to appeal to a mass audience and most likely would have a hard time really showing what Muslim people are. The way everyone is dressed also is something someone would falsely learn about in Aladdin. Everyone is dressed like Arabs are portrayed as dressing. Vests, light colored pants, pointy shoes, turbans, all the stereotypical Muslim clothes are in this movie. Aladdin falsely depicts Muslims as people who do not dress like normal people. Another very important thing in this movie that would portray Muslims wrongly is the penalty for stealing. In one scene, Jasmine, the princess, takes a fruit from a stand and gives it to a hungry boy. The shop owner says that she has to pay, but she has no money. He says, “Do you know what the penalty for stealing is?” and then takes a sword out of his pocket. He takes Jasmines hand and puts in on a board about to cut it off. This is entirely untrue.