Victoria Ferrell
Ms. Rowe
IB English
13 February 2016
Orientalism Hidden Within Aladdin
While viewing the Disney movie Aladdin keeping Edward Said’s Orientalism in mind, the major stereotypes of the eastern people throughout the film become very apparent. Disney, which comes from western culture, generalizes the middle eastern population by showing a stereotype and exaggerating the oriental way of life, their culture, and their appearance. Upon first glance an unsuspecting audience may not recognize any of the details which have been Orientalized. The cartoon, which is made for children, can easily influence a culture to believe stereotypes very subtly, almost unknowingly. The western culture is made to seem as the “right” culture and …show more content…
For example, Aladdin is a good person, as shown multiple times throughout the film, but he was always being treated with no respect because he was a “worthless street rat”. Aladdin knows this because he sings “riff rat, street rat, I don't buy that, if only they'd look closer, would they see a poor boy, no siree, they'd find out there's so much more to me”. He lied to Jasmine when she asked if he was a prince or not because he knew then she would not and could not be with him if he did not. The law is that jasmine has to marry a prince and princess are rich. This further makes us think that all eastern rulers only care about money. This law also shows how the men are oppressive toward women. Jasmine's dad rules the laws and is making her get married, even though she always tells him she doesn't want to. She tells him she wants to be married because of love not a law, but he doesn't care and keeps the law. Another example of men of the Middle East being oppressive of women is when Jafar becomes the sultan, he literally shackles Jasmine and makes her his slave. This could be referencing the Arabic culture and how the husbands treat their wives like slaves. Another instance of Aladdin showing concepts of Orientalism, when describing their way of life is when Aladdin's living arrangement is shown. He lives in the streets and has to steal food. Furthermore, there are children in rags scavenging for food. The “everyday person” you see in the film seems poor and has to work hard. This is shown by the men in the market and the women doing chores. The only people in the film not working hard are the wealthy people like the Sultan and Jasmine. This makes the eastern places seem like everyone under the king is a peasant and the life is unfair. While showing how unfair life is in the Arab culture, it subconsciously shows how great life is in the western
Ms. Rowe
IB English
13 February 2016
Orientalism Hidden Within Aladdin
While viewing the Disney movie Aladdin keeping Edward Said’s Orientalism in mind, the major stereotypes of the eastern people throughout the film become very apparent. Disney, which comes from western culture, generalizes the middle eastern population by showing a stereotype and exaggerating the oriental way of life, their culture, and their appearance. Upon first glance an unsuspecting audience may not recognize any of the details which have been Orientalized. The cartoon, which is made for children, can easily influence a culture to believe stereotypes very subtly, almost unknowingly. The western culture is made to seem as the “right” culture and …show more content…
For example, Aladdin is a good person, as shown multiple times throughout the film, but he was always being treated with no respect because he was a “worthless street rat”. Aladdin knows this because he sings “riff rat, street rat, I don't buy that, if only they'd look closer, would they see a poor boy, no siree, they'd find out there's so much more to me”. He lied to Jasmine when she asked if he was a prince or not because he knew then she would not and could not be with him if he did not. The law is that jasmine has to marry a prince and princess are rich. This further makes us think that all eastern rulers only care about money. This law also shows how the men are oppressive toward women. Jasmine's dad rules the laws and is making her get married, even though she always tells him she doesn't want to. She tells him she wants to be married because of love not a law, but he doesn't care and keeps the law. Another example of men of the Middle East being oppressive of women is when Jafar becomes the sultan, he literally shackles Jasmine and makes her his slave. This could be referencing the Arabic culture and how the husbands treat their wives like slaves. Another instance of Aladdin showing concepts of Orientalism, when describing their way of life is when Aladdin's living arrangement is shown. He lives in the streets and has to steal food. Furthermore, there are children in rags scavenging for food. The “everyday person” you see in the film seems poor and has to work hard. This is shown by the men in the market and the women doing chores. The only people in the film not working hard are the wealthy people like the Sultan and Jasmine. This makes the eastern places seem like everyone under the king is a peasant and the life is unfair. While showing how unfair life is in the Arab culture, it subconsciously shows how great life is in the western