The Disney movie Aladdin has a setting in a Middle Eastern country, something which can be learned right away with the song “Arabian Nights,” along with the animated scenery shown in the opening scene. With that being said, an audience should expect to see ethnic authenticity in the movie’s portrayal. For example, the entirety of the cast should have darker colored skin, Arabic accents, and strong facial features, while aspects of the culture should be realistically displayed as well; however, this is not the case in the least. The representation of Arabian society in Aladdin is extremely inaccurate and incongruent with the ethnicity’s true identity, which can ultimately be viewed as a form of racism.
The depiction of the two main characters, Aladdin and Jasmine, as light skinned Europeans without native Arabic accents is falsely portrayed. Although young viewers more than likely do not realize this error of a Disney prince and princess while watching the movie, many Arabians could see this as a disrespectful gesture to their ethnicity’s pride and feel discriminated against. Those in the Middle East, and anywhere for that matter, should be able to embrace their differences and feel comfortable to be themselves in their own skin; Disney does anything but spreading that message by utilizing a twisted image of the main characters rather than embracing the traits that they should truly have, which puts the pride of Arabs at stake.
Through the deception of Aladdin and Jasmine’s appearances, the creator of the animation seems to be making the point that the authentic look of Arabians is unfamiliar and threatening. By covering up and altering what the main characters should actually look like, it appears that this is done in an effort to make them look more attractive and friendly in contrast to the other characters in the movie who are less liked and problematic. Characters such as Jafar, the Sultan, and the merchants have the accurate Middle Eastern look; however, these characters, who are not as good in the eyes of those watching, all have darker skin along with darker ulterior motives when it comes to the well-liked and charming prince and princess, which seems to allude to the idea that true Arabians are not good people. The creator makes it a point to display those with the authentic traits as dangerous and villainous, which unfortunately is exactly what audiences take away.
As a third world country region, Middle Eastern ethnicity is unfamiliar in the eyes of many people who live in other countries. The Arabic Aladdin and Jasmine are white-washed in order for white European children, often classified as the majority, to relate to the characters more so than those who are of minority ethnicities. This is wrong for Disney to do because it segregates people based on their skin color, language, and cultural background; they should truly be taking the opportunity with movies like Aladdin to showcase and express the wonderful differences of peoples throughout the world while at the same time showing how even though contrary, everyone is similar in many ways and capable of feeling like a prince or princess regardless of their race. The world is made up of diversity, making it a more beautiful and colorful place, but at the end of the day, it consists of one race – the human race.
Some people may think that it is alright for Disney to simply account for the majority and portray characters to look white-European when they are truly Middle Eastern. They could say that this creates more common ground and relatability for young viewers who are predominantly white; however, the reasoning behind this is flawed in so many ways. In the process of making movies based in different geological locations with people of varying ethnicities and cultures, Disney can take the opportunity for children to learn more about those of unlike backgrounds; if this is taken into consideration, there will be less racism present due to an understanding of others and a newfound respect for their culture.
By the two main characters of the Disney movie Aladdin being portrayed in a way that is inaccurate to their true Arabian descent, it is insulting to those in the Middle East who do not look or sound like the glorified characters, but rather resemble the problematic and villainous cast members. The purposefully deceiving representations of Aladdin and Jasmine show how problematic it is that the creator makes an effort to try covering up the true Arabian characteristics that the prince and princess should have in common with the other characters in the movie. Someone’s true colors should always be shown and never hidden; therefore, it is truly unjust and incorrect that the creator of Aladdin altered the appearance of the main characters to better fit a white society when it should instead fully illustrate a third world country’s culture so that Arabians can in turn take pride in it.
