Aladdin – Finding cultural
bias
 Time to think
like a
SNEETCH!
Look for stereotypes
and bias today…
Arabs are….
Look at the list
of terms and
think about the
ones
Americans
might feel
would describe
Arabs.
Religious
Serious
Rich
Funny
Poor
Strong
Good
Nomadic
Modern
Happy
Traditional
Exciting
Simple
Civilized
Mysterious
Dull
Brave
Educated
Farmers
Desert dwellers
Muslim
powerful
Aladdin and cultural biases
Think about what might
offend Arab
Americans in this
film
Make note of visual and
verbal references,
characters, etc… that
show bias
(stereotypes) or
incorrect information
about Arab culture.
Find at least10 items
Lyrics for Aladdin’s theme
song
 Original lyrics…
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the camels
roam.
Where they cut off
your ear
If they don’t like your
face
It’s barbaric, but hey,
it’s home.
 Video/DVD Edited
lyrics…
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the caravan
camels roam.
Where it’s black and
immense
And the heat is
intense
It’s barbaric, but hey,
it’s home.
Kasey Kasem, a DJ wrote some
lyrics to explain his point…
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ANTI-NATIVE AMERICAN:
Oh, I come from the wide-open
Spaces out West
Where the Indian ponies roam,
Where they scalp you dead if they
Don’t like your head.
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.
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ANTI-MEXICAN/LATINO
Oh, I come from a land where they
sleep in the sun
And the gangs of banditos roam.
Where they hang you in jail, if you
don’t have the bail.
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.
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ANTI-JEWISH/ISRAELI LYRICS
Oh, I come from a land where
Religion is law
And the prophets and rabbis
roam.
Where they stone you to death
if
You question your faith.
It’ barbaric, but hey, it’s home.
Aladdin stereotypes/errors
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 Mispronounced Arabic names
Shady looking bad guys:
 Arabic letters are sloppy or not
storyteller, soldiers,
real words
merchants…
 Aladdin and Jasmine
Poverty vs the Palace
look/sound different from the
Punishment for theft is
others
severe
ADDITIONAL DISNEY
Harem girls
ODDITIES…
Dishonest vendors
 Bad guy always has a British
Sultan is dimwitted
accent!
Monkey/Tiger – NOT from  Hero/Heroine has no or 1
Arabia
parent, even today >
‘Enchanted’…
Aladdin and cultural biases
 2. Look for 10 or
more modern
cultural
references, (esp.
in the Genie’s
songs…)
 3. Now you are
ready to write your
own lyrics!
Aladdin lyrics
Arab groups were
offended by the
original lyrics for the
Disney movie
“Aladdin”.
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the camels roam.
Where they cut off your ear
If they don’t like your face
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home.
Can you
remember
the lyrics
from the
video/DVD
release??
Writing your own lyrics…
Write lyrics for a group that show a
positive OR negative bias
about that group.
Some ideas…

Teenagers

Band, choir, orchestra…
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Athletes
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Lawyers
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Democrats
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Republicans
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McDonalds
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Government
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School

etc….
 Follow the format from
the Aladdin lyrics.
Oh, I come from a land
From a faraway place
Where the caravan camels
roam.
Where it’s black and immense
And the heat is intense
It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s
home.
Aladdin Pop Culture
references
 List any modern cultural references you notice!
 Try to find 10 modern cultural references, (esp.
in the Genie’s songs…)