Modern disney
Walt Disney Pictures became noticeably more diverse after the death of Walt Disney, this could be due to his death or perhaps coincidental as society was developing and growing and the fear of the unknown race was not as big of an issue as before.
However there are still issues within these more modern films, especially with stereotypes, as the main target audience for Disney films are children who learn, among other things, morals from these films. Although it can be argued that although there are certain offensive aspects within these films, ultimately they are resolved and shown as wrong.
However there are still issues within these more modern films, especially with stereotypes, as the main target audience for Disney films are children who learn, among other things, morals from these films. Although it can be argued that although there are certain offensive aspects within these films, ultimately they are resolved and shown as wrong.
Aladdin (Clements, 1992)
At first glance Aladdin is the same old Disney love story just set in India, however when you look underneath the surface it is a film which contains strong elements of Orientalism. With this film "Hollywood confirmed that orientalism American Style had sunk deep roots into U.S popular culture... opening with a Saddam Hussein look-alike crooning "Arabian Nights". The lyrics evoke long standing sinister images of the Muslim world" (Little, 2009, p. 11) emphasised by the lyrics "Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face, its barbaric but hey its home". Although Disney changed the lyrics before the video release, these lyrics along with the stereotypical Arab representations are nothing but offensive and show a particular view that "Two hundred years earlier, Americans familiar with the Middle East would not have disagreed with." (Little, 2009, p. 11) however at the time of release it should not have been considered to be allowed in the film due to progression in Orientalism.
Pocahontas (Gabriel, 1995)
Pocahontas also contains elements of Orientalism and Colonialism. Pocahontas herself is a Native American, and is seen as the 'other' when the British come to dig for gold and see them as dangerous because they are different. The Native Americans are seen as magical and to a certain extent, sorcerers, Pocahontas speaks to a magic tree and hears things in the wind which implies that the Native Americans are a more magical race than the British.
The British on the other hand, are represented in a negative way with regards to Colonialism and Orientalism, they are seen as racist and irrational which is specifically shown in the song 'Savages' where they sing "They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil" which links to Colonialism because the general reason for most of the fear caused during that period came from a lack of knowledge and the fear of the unknown. However it would be unfair to say that its only the British in Pocahontas that show hostility towards the unknown race, in 'Savages' the Native Americans say "They're different from us, which means they cant be trusted", thus showing both the British and the Native Americans are victims of Orientalism and therefore ending in a battle.
Ultimately the film ends with a happy ending which teaches the audiences watching it that racism is wrong and teaches them morals which are universal terms that every country teaches, thus making Disney a Transnational Corporation which makes a Transnational film.
The British on the other hand, are represented in a negative way with regards to Colonialism and Orientalism, they are seen as racist and irrational which is specifically shown in the song 'Savages' where they sing "They're not like you and me, which means they must be evil" which links to Colonialism because the general reason for most of the fear caused during that period came from a lack of knowledge and the fear of the unknown. However it would be unfair to say that its only the British in Pocahontas that show hostility towards the unknown race, in 'Savages' the Native Americans say "They're different from us, which means they cant be trusted", thus showing both the British and the Native Americans are victims of Orientalism and therefore ending in a battle.
Ultimately the film ends with a happy ending which teaches the audiences watching it that racism is wrong and teaches them morals which are universal terms that every country teaches, thus making Disney a Transnational Corporation which makes a Transnational film.
Although all of the above films have certain issues within them, they are in fact multicultural and transnational because they don't just address Americans or American society, but issues and races from all over the world.