“10 on 1” The Thief of Bagdad

1. 10 concrete features in the film
   1. The bright colors used in costumes and the set
   2. Type of actors cast in the roles
   3. Similarities between this and the Disney Aladdin film 
   4. Love at first sight romance
   5. The motives of the male characters
   6. Costumes
   7. Violence 
   8. A woman’s worth and beauty 
   9. Mystical powers
   10. Emphasize the ideas of power and people being subservient to others with power
2. Types of actors cast in the roles
   1. Any major character is played by a white character 
   2. The higher powered servants are white 
   3. The lowered power servants are a minority race
   4. Do not represent the real characters of the middle eastern story
   5. Women cast in the film are all thin and follow societal beauty standards
   6. Minority actors are made to play into their racial stereotypes
   7. Sidekicks 
   8. Young female lead actor
   9. Older white male villain 
   10. White male hero 

In the movie it was clear that the cast in the high powered position were white actors who follow the standard “Hollywood” beauty standards. Controversially, the minority actors were cast in subservient roles such as slaves, servants, or sidekicks. The film continuously ridiculed these actors because they were seen as inferior to the white actors. Minority actors were forced to play into stereotypes of their identity by talking and acting differently so that the white actors would seem smarter and more likable. The only likable character who is a minority is Abu, the sidekick and later a subservient dog. Throughout the whole movie the entire point of Abu’s existence is to tend to the needs of Ahmad. Abu completes tasks that will benefit the wants of Ahmad, the King, to fulfill his love-at-first-sight desires. 

When it comes to the female characters in the story the audience can see a similar pattern as the minority characters. The females in the movie are submissive to the men. They follow the “Hollywood” beauty standards – young and thin. In the movie, the princess is being chased by two older men but, one she falls in love-at-first-sight. This age difference plays into the fetishization of younger women, that they are naive and will follow any man’s “wisdom”. The princess is continuously mentioned by Jaffar as a prize to be won.