Aladdin Movie Analysis

3.3 Aladdin

“Aladdin“ is a relatively old Disney movie, released 1992, which won several Academy Awards and broke grossing records of its days.

The animated feature is about a street-urchin called Aladdin, who falls in love with the princess Jasmine as she escapes the palace and meets him at the marketplace. However, the evil vizier Jafar finds out Aladdin is the “diamond in the rough“, the only one that can get into the cave, where the miracle lamp is, that he so desperately wants. So Aladdin is arrested and tricked into getting the lamp for Jafar, but eventually catches it himself. The genie in the lamp offers him 3 wishes and hence Aladdin is made into a prince, so that he can marry the princess, but his plan to impress her fails. Nevertheless,

Growing up in the midst of poverty, Aladdin desires a life in opulence as a prince. Additionally, he hopes for an own home and a wife, all wishes, that come true at the end of the movie. In the US, similar dreams are widely spread, describing a steady part of the American Dream.

The aspect of freedom is illustrated in the movie too, since Jasmine is “not free to make (...) own choices“ and feels “trapped“ . By leaving the palace and going places with Aladdin she breaks free from her old obedient character and becomes more confident and develops a stronger

In most Disney films, a male hero defeats the antagonist, thus stereotypically winning the dream woman’s heart. In contrast Disney put a twist on this film, creating the images of the strong and confident Elsa and the independent heroine Anna. Hereby, Disney attempted to make a statement against gender inequality, supporting equal opportunities and rights for men and woman. Although the idea of gender equality wasn’t so prevalent as the American Dream developed, it has become an inherent part of the concept for many American in recent