Aladdin

I was 2 years old when the movie Aladdin came out on VHS. I never judged the movie based on the introductory theme song or the “Arabian” characters with really bad accents, or the fact that Aladdin and Jasmine were both predominately English characters. Now that I watch this movie more than 19 years later, I can understand why the Arabian population was greatly dissatisfied by the film. Although the producers of Disney say the film Aladdin was loosely based on the film Arabian Nights, it is still a very loose interpretation of the Arabian culture. The American- Arab- Anti Discrimination chapter fought to change the words of Aladdin’s introductory theme song due to unfair/ offensive wording.

The original theme song went like this:

\o7 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.

\f7

The new words are now like this:

\o7 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.

\f7

The American- Arab- Anti- Discrimination chapter fought to take out the word barbaric because they felt it was an inaccurate representation of their culture. The chapter goes on to say that the supporting characters are depicted as mean, nasty people, while Aladdin and Jasmine are the characters that are praised and respected. The problem with this is that Aladdin and Jasmine are unaccented, standard Americanized English, and do not portray Arabian characters and therefore are very misleading. This is not the first time that Disney has had a problem with inaccurately portraying a culture. The three little pigs movie was predominately Jewish characters and Disney was accused or falsely portraying them. This affects me, as well as the children of my generation because Disney falsely portrayed an entire culture. We should be teaching the younger generation that culture diversity is good and encouraged rather than misrepresenting them in media as well as kids movies. Movies are a great tool to teach children how the world should work. Although we need to give these kids an accurate portrayal and make sure we are giving fair representation to a group of people. As a parent I would want my kids to learn the truth behind a culture and I believe that movies have a good chance at displaying that.

Original article: Click Here.

 

Palm Beach Tan Advertising

I always have an eye out for advertising that participates in active stereotyping. We have learned throughout this class that the media falls short of inclusion and accurate representation of all people, women and minorities get the short end of the stick in advertising. Women are solely used as an object of desire. We have learned that sex sells, and marketers use women to sell sex throughout the industry. Recently I was at Palm Beach Tan and saw this ad:

This ad pictures a boy and girl who seem to have tan skin, that’s not what jumped out at me. The girl in this picture is holding a teddy bear and a toy spin wheel and appears to be very shy and dependent on this strong man. Although I did just go in for a tan, this advertisement was very offensive to me. Most of the ads for Palm Beach tan use women as sex objects, so you would think this would be a little bit better, but it’s not. I find if very offensive that the female race is depicted as so weak in this photo. Not only is she seen dependent on a man, but also she is depicted as more of a child, holding toys. When women are the main consumers of their product, I don’t understand why the company would go out of their way to demean them. Sure, I might be the only woman who walked into Palm Beach and thought of this advertisement as demeaning, (I have this class to thank for that,) they lost me as a customer, whether they intended to or not. This affects me because, even when I am trying to do something as simple as tan, I see advertisements than demean my success and portray me as weak. Women have a hard enough time as it is gaining respect and fulfilling success. We already have a number of advertising that portray us as an object of sexual desire, we don’t need more advertising portraying us a weak and childlike. Advertising should focus more on not being gender specific. 

Portrayal or Betrayal? Women in Advertising

Victoria Secret- Native American Apology

In our recent topics of class discussions we have talked about the image of Native Americans in media. Especially discussing Native American women. Through class and through our readings I have learned that the “Native American Princess” is in fact a stereotype and that this is not common for the culture. In recent news Victoria Secret has been at the forefront of misrepresenting Native American Women. Every year Victoria Secret puts on a fashion show, introducing their new line for the upcoming year, this year photos from the extravagant fashion show have already leaked. A very controversial image is at the forefront of the entire show:

The image shows Karlie Kross, a very famous model wearing close to no clothes, beads, and a Native American headdress. Native American women were furious over this photo because women in the Native American culture do not wear headdresses; it is the men who wear these headdresses to ceremonial events in society. Native American across the world found this image offensive and entirely inaccurate. Victoria Secret is facing a boycott from the Native American women after this photo leaked. Victoria Secret is not the first company to face criticism for the misrepresentation of Native Americans. Last year, Urban Outfitters ran an entire line of Navajo Tribe clothing, which featured a headdress and a flask with the Navajo print. This affects me because as a consumer I do not want to participate in the misrepresentation of Native Americans. Unwillingly consumers are buying these products and they do not understand how it is affecting other people. As a consumer I want to be fashionable, but I don’t want to participate in the miss- use of an entire culture. When this happens Native Americans are being included in the media, but they do not have control of their image in media. Victoria Secret released an appropriate apology and they are not running the Native American pictures and headdress in the upcoming show, which runs in December.

LA Times Victoria Secret Article 

Latino Women in Media

We spent the majority of Monday’s class discussing the effects that “tonto” had on the Native American population. It got me really thinking of successful actors/ actresses that have really given their people a voice. The best actress that came to mind was the Spanish actress Penelope Cruz. Penelope Cruz is very celebrated throughout the film industry and gives voice to the Spanish people. 

Since her debut in her first movie, Penelope has stared in a variety of films from English to Spanish. Her variety of films makes her the celebrated actress she is today. She is a philanthropist and constantly educating the people around her about her Spanish heritage. We have been discussing how different minorities are included within media and whether or not they have control of their own image. Penelope Cruz has given Spanish movies and the Spanish people inclusion and control of their image within media. She is a powerful woman who gives support to the Spanish people and other women around her. 

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz discusses spanish film carrer

This affects me because it let’s girls see a successful actress proving people around her wrong. She is strong and independent and continues to make Spanish movies to encourage her Spanish people and promote the Spanish film business. This gives women in my generation encouragement to be successful in the right way. To understand where we came from and pursue great things in our future. She gives a voice to the Latino women is a positive way. Unlike Penelope, Sofia Vergara represents Latino women in a different way. Both women are very beautiful, very successful yet use their talents in different ways. In the new Pepsi commercial Sofia Vergara uses her beauty to sell products and uses her body as an object. This does not teach young Latino women to be successful in the right way. Penelope Cruz demonstrates grace and success and has complete control and inclusion of herself in the media. 

Commentary on Pepsi commercial