Cineaste, January 1st, 1993
Aladdin, the most financially successful Disney film ever and a winner of two Academy Awards, provides a painful reminder that unconscious racism is still alive and well in Hollywood. Yes, this thirtyfirst animated Disney feature is whimsical, which means some allowance must be made for comedic license. Yes, any film that has a humorous theme is entitled to poke fun at a culture's foibles. But Aladdin, a $35 million film aimed at children, crosses the racist line in no uncertain terms. Consider the film's opening song, "Arabian Nights." It is belted out by a shady-looking al-rawi (storyteller)...
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