Pocahontas

Major Post 5 By Victoria Courchesne

Previously I discussed the 1940 Disney film Fantasia

    It is no shock to say the image of racial stereotypes can be seen in many of the early cartoons, such as Bosko from Looney Toons. Yet, today we can still these stereotypes in some of Disney’s recent films. Pocahontas, released in 1995,is one of the company’s most controversial films due to its stereotyping of Native Americans. Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, and more of Disney’s “classic” films have been called out and criticized for their orientalism, stereotypes, and other cultural insensitive factors.

But, does this mean we can’t enjoy these movies anymore?

  No, no, you can still watch the films if you want and appreciate the artistry and hard work that went into them. Some of the professors at SCAD even worked on those films. But you should be aware of each film’s controversial past and acknowledge that Dinsey at a time thought that these films were suitable for release.

   I will continue to watch Aladdin and annoy all of my neighbors as I burst out with all my heart the current lyrics to “Arabian Nights– But I will also acknowledge the original song’s original lyrics contained the orientalist stereotype line “Where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face”.

Really Disney, really?

Sources :

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170714-the-aladdin-controversy-disney-cant-escape

https://medium.com/@nerdypoc/examining-racist-disney-tropes-continued-a5379acc5783