What do Arabs think of the Disney movie Aladdin?

[Anonymous]

Does it reflect their culture at all? Do little girls hope to be like Princess Jasmine?

[Anonymous]

I'm not Arab but I recall reading a blog by someone who said Aladdin is inaccurate and promotes stereotypes (particularly that the people are violent or thieves). The opening song calls their home "barbaric."

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=hPUAhSGZtvU#!

Not to say the writers had bad intentions, but I personally noticed that the "bad guys" in the film have stronger Arab features, whereas Aladdin... link link

Sorry for the ramble, I just like film analysis XD

[mattygfromtheMD32]

In all fairness, Disney has very subtle (and some not so) racism in a lot of their movies.

[Opinion Owner]

Haha, indeed.

[irykiryk]

Aladdin isn't actually Arabic, he was never an Arab. He was Chinese or maybe even Central Asian or Indian, but since their are genies in the story, most likely China.

The city he lives in is Muslim except the merchant who is Jewish.

His city is claimed to be named Agrabah. Very similar to the city of Agrabad in Bangladesh or Akrabad in India. In all instances the story is in east Asia or at least South/Central Asia.

[mattygfromtheMD32]

You know, I feel like they couldn't make up their minds about where they wanted it to take place. They say "Arabian Nights" and they ride camels and such, but everything else suggests it takes place in India, like irykiryk said.

[martyfellow]

My Arab siser in law just laughs, says it's the Hollywood idea of Arabs from 75 years ago. Disney hasn't learned anything at all about Arabs for at least that long.