Childhood Destruction Part 1

Image from Glaad.org

“Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance. Like so many things, it is not what outside, but what is inside that counts.” 

I hate those moments when you like or are passionate about something, but then you find the ugly truth about it and go, “Oh no. This can’t be true... Really?!?!” I swear I have this experience since the start of my time. I come from an Indian family and I have come to understand my parents do not understand the secret messages and the intended message about films. This is why Disney and I have a hate, love relationship.

I feel as if when it comes to media especially, parental guidance and explanation is needed. Children are interpreting and getting influenced by many different things. This post will talk about three movies, which will include racial discrimination from countries around the world.

 

Image is a painting by Richard Vanderwende from One1more2time3 weblog.

The first film I will discuss is Aladdin and there are two items which are discussed in the article, "Disney's Most Racist Films and Characters" by Juniper Russo. One of the issues being the song “Arabian Nights” which explains the Middle East in a negative way. . Who would have noticed the song being a controversy because of the Arab discrimination? However the lyrics says it all, “Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.”

I personally never noticed lyrics were talking about the Middle East. Thinking about it now, it changes the whole perspective and meaning of the song. The song is catchy, one has to listen to the lyrics carefully to notice the discrimination. 

Image from http://www.animatedheroes.com/aladdin.html.

Second issues addressed is how Princess Jasmine and Aladdin become more “Caucasian” throughout the movies. Russo states the message kids would be getting is how good guys started having light skin and the bad guys started having dark skin.

I would have disagree with Russo’s statement about kids noticing the skin color difference. Kids would be focused on the Princess Jasmine, Aladdin, and the story line more than the color of their skin. To say, the skin color changes through the movies is tricky because technology wasn't so great back then to make high definition movies.

Image from Fanpop.

One of the issues from The Lady and the Tramp I will discuss in this post is the Siamese cats which are portrayed as stereotypical Asians: buck toothed, slanted eyes, and exaggerated accents. The cats are portrayed as evil, manipulated, and cunning.

I never knew it was a racial issue till I started to take it seriously. When you are a kid, you think those cats are mean and you hate them for what they do to the main character. Now when you watch the film again as a grown up, you realize there is a more depth to the cats than them being mean.

Image from DVD Active. 

Another article called, "Are these Disney Movies Racist?” by Jessica Misener also brings up the Siamese cat in The Aristocrats film. The Siamese cat plays piano with chopsticks and also sings in the song “Everyone Wants to Be a Cat,” but talks about fortune cookies and making fun of the ways Asians speak.

When I was a kid, I thought it was silly and funny how the cat was acting. I knew Asians used chopsticks, but I never thought it was a racism issue. However, now as a grown up, I see the racism and stereotype build up.

This is only part one of the destruction Disney has done. It only gets worse in my second post about the films. Stay tune for part two for more.

What do you think so far? How do you feel about it?