Wacana 'barbar' dalam film animasi Aladin

Abstract

This article discusses the discourse of Arab barbarism constructed in animated film Aladdin produced by Walt Disney Picture Animation in 1992. The story of Aladdin is originated from the Arabian folktales, Alf Layla wa Layla which was translated into English version of “Arabian Nights”. Arab stereotypes in Hollywood cinema has been studied by many researchers, and this article will find out how Hollywood constructs the discourse of Arab barbarism in animated film Aladdin, and whose interest or ideology constructed in the discourse. This study applies Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, through its three levels of analysis, micro, macro and mezo. The analysis shows that the discourse of Arab barbarism is constructed as a politics of identity for othering the Arabs through natural ways of the film. In this film, Aladdin is able to transform the antagonist Jafar, helped by the Jinn implies the notion that the power of technology and humanitarianism is constructed as the tools to overpower the powerful barbarian. Hollywood and America’s interest in projecting the friend and foe in its international relation through the cultural product needs to be scrutinized critically.