A Deeper Look at Aladdin

Blog #3

During the vacation, I had the opportunity to watch the Disney movie Aladdin, and analyze some of its subliminal messages. The first and major point of racism that I caught was to do with representation of the Arab people.  I thought that Disneys representation of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine was very different than the other characters and background actors, they are quite noticeably Americanised. Aladdin and Jasmine both have paler skin, American accents and facial features. The citizens of Agrabah, however, all have big noses, darker skin than the lead characters and speak with thick accents. I also noticed how Aladdin’s skin tone changes throughout the movie.  He starts off as a poor arab man, with dark skin, and by the end of the movie he is rich and whiter.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Not only were the main characters Americanised, but the minor one-bit roles appeared to be villainous, greedy and deceitful merchants.

I also discovered a hidden message in the dialogue.  In the scene where Aladdin and Jasmine are to take a magic carpet ride, Aladdin calls on Jasmine to come with him, and continues to speak under his breath “teenagers take off your clothes. ” However this piece of dialogue is strangely muffled, slightly distorted and seems to be joined by another voice in the background.  This is a prime example of a verbal hidden message.

Disney is creating a stereotype of the Arap people with negative connotations based on their representations.  They are trying to send messages to the innocent minds of our country’s children, and exploit their vulnerability.  At a young age, cartoons easily influence the mind, and they are utterly controlling.  Disney could make an entire generation believe any stereotype.  Throughout the entire movie, they reinforce heterosexuality and grab the attention of the viewers by including a love story.  Aladdin builds these gender roles by having a male protagonist who has to “win over the girl.”  However, the Princess does not accept Aladdin until he has money!  So Disney reinforces the idea that money comes before love, and you cannot have love until you are successful.  So maybe the reason behind Americans strong desire for money originated from Disney.