Aladdin Reflection

So Jasmine is the Disney princess I got when I took the quiz. I am excited to see how true her character really is to my personality because I do not remember this movie- like at all. It's interesting how man in turban in the beginning breaks the fourth wall in order to explain historical setting/context of movie. This was probably a good idea because the target audience of the movie (kids) probably do not know much about this background information.

The beginning of the movie is a bit scary as it starts from the villain's point of view, something most Disney movies do not do. I never really hear of Aladdin as any kids favorite Disney movie which is understandable because Jafar is a pretty scary villain. I find it interesting that Aladdin has a narrow face, a pointy chin, and steals: all traits of a villain. I think Aladdin does not look like the typical hero with and wide jawbone because he is poor which makes him a different kind of hero in the eyes of Disney.

Aladdin equates being rich in the beginning of the movie with happiness because he is poor and does not know that money will not change his state of mind. When Jasmine is in her backyard she opens a bird cage and sets all of them free. This is very clear symbolism for her because she feels she is trapped and tries to run away to set herself free. In the movie Aladdin and Jasmine each possess freedom, but they have different kinds of freedom. Aladdin has "freedom to" in the beginning of the movie, meaning he has the freedom to choose what he does and Jasmine has "freedom from," meaning she has the freedom from making choices and gets to live lavishly as a princess in the castle. Aladdin thinks he wants this "freedom from" until the end of the movie when he finds out he is to be the sultan and does not want this responsibility. He ideally wanted to be as rich as a sultan, but does not want the actual job.

Aladdin cracks open a watermelon with his knee in the movie- thats not very realistic. How hard would it be to have him throw it on the ground or something a little more believable?

And like all typical Disney movies, Aladdin makes a deal to get the person he loves and gives up what the romantic interest found to be a redeemable quality in them. Aladdin asks The Genie to make him a typical prince, exactly what Jasmine does not want in a mate- she wants love. This is just like how Ariel gives up her voice in The Little Mermaid when Prince Eric only wanted her for her voice.

This movie reminds me of the story of Purim so I looked it up and similarities between Disney movies and the torah/bible have been drawn. In the story of Purim, Haman, the King's evil advisor, wants to hang Mordechai and Queen Ester steps in and tells the King of his evil plan. Haman manipulates the King just like how Jafar hypnotizes the Sultan with his snake staff.

This link has more information on the comparisons.

About the discussion of race in this movie, it is interesting how there are many references to Western culture in the movie, especially seen in the character of The Genie. The Genie pretends to host game shows and even throws Aladdin the Macy's Day Parade. They even have the reporter with ear muffs from the parade in the movie, equating Aladdin's richness and success with Western themes.