actually, it appears it was a lamp (see wikipedia's entry on oil lamps-- particularly the first couple photos)-- which makes me even more curious: does that mean our teapots are lamps?
incidentally, i wonder what our more closed-minded, xenophobic populations would say if they realized the Disney movie is based a traditional Middle Eastern folktale. Aladdin (or "Alah ad-din" as he was apparently called) and all of the other characters, good and bad, in the original story had Arabic names, just like the ones we're so afraid of now...
I know! My realization actually led to Robin and I having a discussion about how off all of our appropriations must be. The Bible for instance...
Ultimately I found it funny that because the Disneyfied story was so mesmerizing and became ingrained our minds as children that we don't even question the fact that the classification of "lamp" is a little bit of a stretch for western culture.
Thanks for the article suggestion though, I was wondering how a lamp of that kind might work. I hope all is well with you!
they should remake the movie and have the genie pop out of a real lamp, like something you picked up at Ikea...
it bothers me that huge parts of our culture, language, etc. are based on stealing things from other cultures, but then somehow we find it acceptable to act superior to other nations and peoples when it comes to immigration, our collective attitude toward foreigners and our overall international views (ie that we're better than everyone else). how is it fair that we have co-opted bits and pieces of other heritages for centuries and yet still denounce those who come to this country and try to preserve elements of their own culture rather than assimilating immediately to become "real Americans."
we can steal a story like Aladdin and Disneyfy it for our own, but we can't stand the fact that people from the middle east don't talk like us or dress like us or celebrate Christmas like us when the come to live here.
our diversity is our shared heritage, not an obstacle to it
( ... )
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incidentally, i wonder what our more closed-minded, xenophobic populations would say if they realized the Disney movie is based a traditional Middle Eastern folktale. Aladdin (or "Alah ad-din" as he was apparently called) and all of the other characters, good and bad, in the original story had Arabic names, just like the ones we're so afraid of now...
Reply
Ultimately I found it funny that because the Disneyfied story was so mesmerizing and became ingrained our minds as children that we don't even question the fact that the classification of "lamp" is a little bit of a stretch for western culture.
Thanks for the article suggestion though, I was wondering how a lamp of that kind might work. I hope all is well with you!
Reply
it bothers me that huge parts of our culture, language, etc. are based on stealing things from other cultures, but then somehow we find it acceptable to act superior to other nations and peoples when it comes to immigration, our collective attitude toward foreigners and our overall international views (ie that we're better than everyone else). how is it fair that we have co-opted bits and pieces of other heritages for centuries and yet still denounce those who come to this country and try to preserve elements of their own culture rather than assimilating immediately to become "real Americans."
we can steal a story like Aladdin and Disneyfy it for our own, but we can't stand the fact that people from the middle east don't talk like us or dress like us or celebrate Christmas like us when the come to live here.
our diversity is our shared heritage, not an obstacle to it ( ... )
Reply
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