Is Disney a Villain?

In the last few weeks, I´ve been reading about Disney critics and why they think Disney is the Villain. Mainly, I´ve been reading the work of Henry Giroux.

Henry Giroux in his text criticizes Disney for being three thing:

1) Capitalist

Giroux claims that Disney has gone too deep in the realm of capitalism:

- "Disney threatens legal action against three day-care centers for using Disney cartoon on their walls." - Giroux

Yes, it might be true, but that couldn't be the entire story. Why would a company so big threaten three day-care centers so small! It didn't had any sense at all, so I googled and found why Disney was right in threatening to file law suits against three day care centers.

 - ¨Disney construct childhood so as to make it completely compatible with consumerism.¨ - Giroux

What is wrong with this? Consumerism together is the one thing that keeps Disney in the business. And this doesn't only apply to Disney, but to all companies but to every big company like Apple or Walmart!

Money is what allows Disney to keep creating movies for our entertainment and there is nothing bad or wrong with that!


2) Brainwashing Children

Giroux argues that as Disney controls what children see, they can show them whatever they want and teach them whatever they want jus like an educator: school teacher or parent.

I think that this might be true, but it might not be necessarily intentional.  Disney might be, without knowing it or directly implying it, teaching children a couple of lessons here and there, but are they doing it with a final purpose?

I agree with Giroux, when he says that there must be parent supervision over children watching Disney movies, because after all, Disney also has the free will to say what they want in the US!

3) Racism

Giroux argues that Disney has, sometimes, been racist! And he gives extremely convincing and true examples:

"Where they cut off your ear if they don´t like your face. It´s barbaric, but hey, its home." - Aladdin original opening song
Aladdin is an important case in Giroux´s piece because Aladdin is famous since it won TWO Academy Awards (Oscars).

Giroux quoted Yousef Salem - "All of the bad guys have beards and large, bulbous noses, sinister eyes, and heavy accents." and "Aladdin doesn't have a big nose, he has a small one. He doesn't have a beard or a turban. He doesn't have a turban. What makes him nice is they´ve given him this American character."

Without a doubt, Disney was racist in this movie, but not only in this one also in movies like Song and the South and many others!

Which others you ask?

Giroux argues that Song of The South, The Jungle Book, and The Lion King are racist in very convincing arguments like the ones for Aladdin, and he might totally right, but we must ask ourselves two question:

1)  Is it the history of the time the movie is released enough to excuse Disney's racist actions?

2) If the historical context is not a valid excuse, is Disney at least trying to change in an attempt to amend their errors? To fix those horrible decisions they made?