The following term paper deals with the representation of the Orient through stereotypes and clichés. The movie Aladdin, which was released 2019, will be used to show the Orients representation by the Europeans and Americans.
Close your eyes and think about a desert with camels transporting goods. A bazar where you hear the cries of sellers, smell perfume, spices, coffee and tobacco. A bazar which is colourful, with exotic fruits and marvel lamps. Think about a palace and harem with beautiful women that wear long satin dresses with turbaned faces and golden jewelleries, performing belly dance and Arab men with al lot of gold and diamonds that get feed by their servants.
The most people from the West would rapidly think about the Orient because those characteristics describe the Middle East.
First, the term Orient and Orientalism will be explained and referred to Edward Said´s Orientalism. After that, the term stereotypes will be defined and several stereotypes about the Middle East and the Orient will be presented. Then, visual effects will be described which are important for the movie analysis. In the last part, the movie Aladdin will be analysed. The focus is on which elements fulfill clichés and stereotypes according to the Orient and the definition of Orientalism. While analysing those characteristics the analysis of visual effects is included.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Orient and Orientalism
2.1 Definition of the Orient and Orientalism
2.2 Edward Said´s Orientalism
3. Stereotypes
3.1 Definition of Stereotypes
3.2 Stereotypes and the Orient
4. Film Analysis
4.1 Visual Analysis
4.2 Colours
4.3 Music
4.4 Acting and Performing
5. The Representation of the Orient in Disney´s Aladdin
5.1 Summary
5.2 Setting
5.3 Music
5.4 Characters
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how the Middle East is represented in the 2019 live-action movie "Aladdin" through the lens of Western stereotypes and Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism. The primary research question explores whether the film reinforces or challenges traditional clichés concerning Middle Eastern culture, gender roles, and societal structures.
- The theoretical application of Orientalism and Western constructs of the "Other."
- Definitions and psychological perceptions of stereotypes.
- Technical film analysis, including camera perspectives, color symbolism, and sound design.
- A critical case study of "Aladdin" regarding character representation and setting.
- The intersection of cinematic entertainment and political discourse.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Stereotypes and the Orient
Since September 11, 2001 stereotypes have multiplied. Mostly, negative stereotypes are relating to trustworthiness and violence which entail consequences. Those Stereotypes lead to less favourable views of Muslims and Arabs, especially in terms of trustworthiness and brutality which was also was intensified by the war. Additionally, American governance and politics keep focusing on war and terror and especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. A lot of Americans have a negative connoted picture on Muslims, which can be reflected through the stereotypes. News often includes terms like militant, terrorists, radical fundamentalist or extremist (cf. Sides and Gross 583-585).
Hence, group centrism affects political attitudes due to the fact that special social groups only matter under certain circumstances (cf. ibd. 588).
Othering is today a common expression in cultural studies for stereotypical ascription of otherness towards people with a foreign culture (cf. Hess- Lüttich 18-20).
It is a word that “has gained currency to designate exaggerated attributions of otherness to people of a different culture” (Holenstein 35).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the paper's focus on the representation of the Orient through stereotypes in the movie Aladdin.
2. Orient and Orientalism: Explains the conceptual definition of the Orient and Edward Said’s theory on Orientalism as a colonialist construct.
3. Stereotypes: Defines the psychological nature of stereotypes and their socio-political impact, particularly concerning perceptions of the Middle East.
4. Film Analysis: Outlines the methodological framework for movie analysis, covering visual techniques, color usage, sound, and acting.
5. The Representation of the Orient in Disney´s Aladdin: Applies the theoretical and methodological findings to the movie, analyzing specific scenes, characters, and settings.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings and confirms that the movie largely perpetuates Western clichés about the Orient.
Keywords
Orientalism, Aladdin, Stereotypes, Westernization, Film Analysis, Cultural Representation, Middle East, Othering, Colonialism, Visual Effects, Disney, Gender Roles, Islam, Socio-political discourse
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Western stereotypical views of the Orient are reproduced and depicted in the 2019 Disney movie "Aladdin."
What primary themes are analyzed?
Central themes include Orientalism, the psychological function of stereotypes, cultural "Othering," and the power dynamics embedded in cinematic representations of the Middle East.
What is the central research question?
The research explores how the film aligns with or deviates from Edward Said’s definition of Orientalism and whether it reinforces common tropes about the Middle Eastern region.
Which scientific methodology is implemented?
The paper utilizes film studies methodologies (visual analysis, sound analysis, camera techniques) in conjunction with cultural studies theories, specifically Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main part builds a theoretical foundation on Orientalism and stereotypes before performing a descriptive and critical analysis of the film’s setting, music, and character portrayals.
Which keywords categorize this work?
Key terms include Orientalism, Stereotypes, Othering, Film Analysis, Cultural Representation, and Disney's Aladdin.
How is the princess character, Jasmine, represented in the film?
Jasmine is initially depicted as a typical "Oriental" woman—dependent and suppressed—but the film provides her with a modern, defiant arc where she fights for her rights and independence.
Does the film challenge the negative perception of the East through its music?
The analysis suggests the opposite: the film tends to group diverse cultures into a single, cohesive "Arabian" sound, reinforcing a homogenized Western view of the region.
What role does magic play in the film’s narrative structure according to the author?
Magic is identified as a stereotypical element of the Orient; within the film, it serves as a "deus ex machina" that resolves complex socio-political conflicts, ultimately preventing genuine societal evolution.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, Orientalism by Edward Said. The Representation of the Orient in Disney's "Aladdin", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1439022
