Disney/ Aladdin/Arabian nights

Disney movies have been recognized around the world by children and many people use the Disney stories as a platform for teaching children lessons through the stories of the princesses.

In Disney’s Aladdin, there are many Orientalist ideologies clear through character portrayals and subliminal messaging through the setting and the song, Arabian Nights. (Lyrics posted below)

Princess Jasmine is portrayed as a victimized prisoner in the Midde East and her responsibility is to obey her father and care for him she is oppressed by the males in her life, which is a common belief surrounding women who live in the middle-east, a theory which keeps the west superior.

In this case the West is automatically the Occident.

Jasmines appearance is interesting as her character appears oppressed by men yet she is dressed like a belly dancer, an exotic discourse used in the media representing the Middle East. The images have changed since 9/11 to women being veiled.

In the song Arabian Nights the setting for the film is set in a land that is considered “Barbaric”

I come from a land, from a faraway place where the caravan camels roam, where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face it's barbaric, but hey, it's home.”(1992)

It is clear the message that the movie sends compares the Middle East to the West and the comparison is showing that the west is modern and liberal where people are treated as equals, though we know that is not the case as patriarchy and racism exist in every society.

Photo credits:

http://www.ahiva.info/public/galeria/jafar.gif

http://disney-clipart.com/Aladdin/jasmine/Disney-Princess-Jasmine3.jpg

http://jerkmag.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/veiled-women-of-afghanistan_73331.jpg

Title: *Aladdin - Arabian Nights lyrics*

Artist: Aladdin Lyrics <http://www.lyrics007.com/Aladdin%20Lyrics.html>


Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense
And the heat is intense
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home

[Original first verse (1992-93):]
Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where they cut off your ear
If they don't like your face
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home

When the wind's from the east
And the sun's from the west
And the sand in the glass is right
Come on down
Stop on by
Hop a carpet and fly
To another Arabian night

Arabian nights
Like Arabian days
More often than not
Are hotter than hot
In a lot of good ways

Arabian nights
'Neath Arabian moons
A fool off his guard
Could fall and fall hard
Out there on the dunes