Reimagining Aladdin: Cultural Depictions, Character Transformations, and the American Dream in Animation - Free Essay

Question One

The 2019 Aladdin animation has taken a different twist on the tale, as it tries to mirror the 1992 original version of Aladdin. Even though the 2019 animation has highly followed a similar plot and characters within the same animation numerous controversies regarding the orients have emerged in the new Aladdin animation. It tries to mirror the original through an Orientalist work, where numerous events have been revamped to help attract Western and European audiences.

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In the 1992 Aladdin, the Sultan’s Palace is depicted with a sizable portrayal, which helps stand out over the smaller villages surrounding it. The Palace was created with a closer resemblance to the Orient's architectural culture, which helps to distinguish it from any culture or tradition. With a closer resemblance to the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the architecture has been used to depict the Orient culture. However, in the 2019 Aladdin animation movie, the size of the Sultan’s Palace is magnified, to depict the power of the Sultan. In this case, the huge palace symbolizes wealth and power, which has been used to oppress, the citizens. Moreover, the size has sacrificed the cultural architecture style of the orients but rather depicted a more modernized architectural concept.

On the contrary, the larger size of the Sultan’s Palace depicts a stereotypical concept, where the Orient rulers are depicted as oppressive and dominant over their servants and citizens. In this case, the size of the palace amplifies the stereotype of a selfish ruler.

The Inhabitants' Comparison

The 1992 Aladdin depicted both Aladdin and Abu as two good friends who are friendly and open to helping the society from oppressive guards receiving orders from Jafar. Abu and Aladdin share food with homeless children as a sign of unity and care for the needy. Even though this scenario has been reflected in the 2019 Aladdin, Aladdin appears to have revamped the art of stealing aided by Abu to help survive in the city. Additionally, Abu is also depicted as mean, especially when Aladdin volunteers to offer the needy children the bread he had, Abu hides his share on his hat, rather than sharing with the children. Thus, the film reshapes the cultural values of the Orients.

Question Two

Foil Characters

Both Aladdin and Jafar in the 1992 Aladdin, are portrayed with almost equal physical composition their bodies are slightly equal despite the variation of their voices. Jafar sounds more commanding compared to Aladdin, which gives him a commanding power, and dominance. Aladdin’s voice is calmer, which has been utilized for negotiation. On the contrary, Jafar’s vice is the opposite, as he has been depicted to possess an authoritative voice. In the 2019 Aladdin animation, both Aladdin and Jafar are depicted with stronger bodies, with Jafar being portrayed as powerful due to his body size and the role he plays at the palace. His commanding voice does not change but rather remains commanding and more authoritative to his servants.

Question Three

The American Dream (social mobility, rags to riches)

When Aladdin helps Prince Jasmine from losing her golden bracelet, he quickly falls in love with her. However, he is quickly set aside by his class. He is confined by poverty, a restrictive constraint that hinders him from having any desire to marry Princess Jasmine. However, transformation soon takes a new twist when he encounters the magical kettle, that has been the home for Gini. Aladdin is given three wishes to make by Gini, and one of the wishes is fulfilled when they are saved from the cave, leaving him with only two wishes.

Aladdin exemplifies the American dream through social mobility, where Gini transforms him into a wealthy prince asking Princess Jasmine, for a hand for marriage. The transformation, which gives Aladdin, a wealthy appearance, depicts Aladdin leaving the American dream, which is sort of lived.

References

Al Jazeera English. 2017. Edward Said - Framed: The Politics Of Stereotypes In News. Video. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwJXpWfBpBcwgfgJhQvxBtXfHXt?projector=1&messagePartId=0.2.

Said, Edward. "Introduction to Orientalism." Media Studies: A Reader (1978): 111-23.