It was very interesting to re-watch this movie and pick up on so many things that I didn't notice when I was younger. For instance, the bad characters have a darker complexion than the good characters do. The movie hits on all the stereotypes that are given to Arabs; all they do is ride camels, watch scantily clad women dance and wear turbans. The movie also touches on the "barbaric" nature of Arabs. It shows how the punishment for stealing is to cut the thief’s hand off. The original lyrics of the opening song, "Arabian Nights," actually included the lines "I come from a land, from a faraway place, where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face/! It's barbaric, but hey, it is home." These words were changed in 1993 after being deemed racist.
stereotypes_in_aladdin.doc |