Reel Bad Arabs

I think there is a better video, with a better argument out there. Yes there are stereotypes portrayed by the media. But some of the films that were featured, I have thought long about and have come to this conclusion. A particular film, Aladdin (the animated version) is not necessarily a film about negative stereotypes. I personally hate stereotyping because there are just a million ways to be wrong. But some of Aladdin where people say arabs are being presented as caracatures could be construed a different way. The scene where the parade takes place, there are camels and elephants and women belly dancing women skipping through the street, gold flowing everywhere, a hero that gives to the poor, etc. Yes there are stereotypes featured here. However, if you are going to make a fictional portrayal of life in a distant land that was a very interesting way to do it. It was like a display of the exotic things they have there. A promotion, if you will of and arab country. If that scene was a commercial yeah, you would go there. The end of the film where Aladdin chooses Genies freedom over his own desires displays the values that he has. He kept his word despite what would make him happy. The sultan changes his rules about who the princess can marry because he knows the true character of this "street rat." Also there has bee talk about Princess Jasmine and her skimpy clothing. Number one: that's the sort of thing that American audiences like to see, and it is a constant theme in most Disney movies. This is not necessarily a slight against arab countries. If this film was meant to be seen by an american audience, then many of us whom the developers know are not familiar with the values in the middle east would not have approved of Jasmine being "hidden" as we would have percieved it.