Essay On The Movie Aladdin

Said stated that it is “virtually impossible for an American […] to see films about the Middle East that are not coloured politically” and that “Arabs almost always play the role of violent people” (said, 1977). In Disney’s 1992 animated film ‘Aladdin’ there is constant images of violence and danger. This is first seen at the very beginning of the film through lyrics of the theme song ‘Arabian Nights’ originally with the lyrics “They cut off your ear, if they don’t like your face”(Hobson, 2010). This is a demonstration of orientalism and the portrayal of Arabs in this film as an unjust violent people. The lyrics were later changed to “Where it’s flat and immense and the heat is intense, its barbaric but hey it’s home” although this does not project the Arabs directly as dangerous people it does however project the middle east to be a harsh and alien environment to live in establishing the Arab world as the ‘other’. After the Theme song concludes we meet the merchant who proclaims that his “combinations hookah and coffee maker” will not break, and then it breaks. This although it is subtle puts the image out that people of the Middle East are untrustworthy and conspiring.

The images of violence in the film are continued as almost everyone in the film has a sword. This is particularly relevant when Aladdin is being chased by guards for stealing a loaf of bread, Razoul the chief guard yells “I’ll have you’re hands for a trophy, street rat”. This portrays Arabs as celebrators of violence and it being a social norm. Although armed guards are not stereotypical and are very common, armed merchants are not and are an oriental stereotype. We see this when Jasmine takes an apple without paying for it. The stall owner is quick to resort to...

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...uch as the boxing trainer, French waiter, Barber and dancing show mater with a suit and hat. These roles being most prevalent in western culture bring the west into the scene tainting it. Genie bring positive connotations to magic in the film which is directly contrasting to the actions of Jafar. When Aladdin asks for his first wish of becoming a prince, Genie takes on the role of a French stylist and exclaims that Aladdin “fez-and-vest-combo is much too third century.” This is a direct example of Said’s statement of the “Western style for dominating, restructuring and having authority over the orient.” (1977). By referring the Aladdin’s clothes as “third century” he is indirectly referring to the other oriental people who wear the same “fez-and-hat-combo”. By making this comment in the character of a French stylist it adds a subtly feeling of western superiority.