Standpoint Theory and Aladdin

                Researchers and commentators on society have always had a difficult time approaching certain issues from an unbiased point of view. This is where the idea of Standpoint Theory comes in. Standpoint Theory suggests that the perspectives of those who have a high social location–often including males, heterosexuals, and the rich–are usually less objective by nature than the perspectives of those with a lower social location.

                Disney’s Aladdin (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103639/) deals with exactly this idea, though the film never uses the term. The classic animated film features a impoverished young man who falls in love with a princess after running into her while she is disguised as a street urchin. Princess Jasmine, however, can only marry a prince. After discovering a magic lamp, Aladdin is able to become a prince in order to marry her. Once it is discovered that Aladdin is not the prince he claims to be, Jasmine must decide how to make their love work.

                Although Disney films do not typically bring to mind social theories, Aladdin accesses Standpoint Theory in order to carry out its story. Sandra Harding and Julia T. Wood explain Standpoint Theory as a way to understand objectivity in relation to the social hierarchy (http://www.afirstlook.com/edition_7/theory_resources/Standpoint_Theory). Griffin explains, “If all knowledge is tainted by the social location of the knower, then we would do well to start our search for truth from the perspective of people who are most sensitive to inequities of power. They will have the least to lose if findings challenge the status quo” (457-58). Particularly focusing on the standpoint of women, Harding and Wood bring forward the otherwise unvoiced opinions, positing that marginalized or oppressed viewpoints are less likely to recognize certain patterns of behavior which might be deemed unfair or one-sided. Standpoint Theory highlights these unheard voices, allowing them to challenge the status quo set forth (typically) by white, heterosexual males. (452-53)

                One of the major themes within Aladdin revolves around the concept of changing perspectives. The most notable connection to Standpoint Theory presents itself when Jasmine decides to leave the protection of the palace and explore her city–which is extremely poverty-stricken. Having grown up around wealth, Jasmine does not understand the economic sphere or the concept of poverty. While in the marketplace, she finds herself in trouble when she gives away a piece of fruit to a poor, young girl. When she does not have any money to pay for the apple, the merchant threatens to cut off her hand. This encounter–particularly her ignorance of the poverty in her city–demonstrates Harding and Wood’s message. Having never experienced the perspective of the poor, Jasmine now has an understanding of the harshness of the world. She comes closer to an objective standpoint by identifying with the poor, and she learns that despite the great palace which usually surrounds her, her kingdom is not nearly as peaceful as she had once thought.

                After receiving the lamp and wishing his way out of poverty, Aladdin–coming from an objective point of view as a person low on the social scale–enters the princess’s world and is able to objectively determine that life in the palace holds numerous unjust problems. Primarily, Aladdin–having been allowed to do as he pleased as a street urchin–sees Jasmine’s inability to choose her suitor as unfair. The sultan, who grew up around this custom, is unable to see this limitation as a problem. It should be noted that Jasmine, who also grew up within this system, sees the injustice within the custom. According to Standpoint Theory, the connection between these differing viewpoints is simple: social hierarchy determines the objectivity of the situation. The sultan is at the top of the social hierarchy, and therefore his view is the least objective. Jasmine, being a wealthy woman, is situated just below the sultan, and–although her view is still biased surrounding certain issues, she is able to objectively see this issue. Aladdin, who is the lowest in the social hierarchy, is able to objectively see most issues.  The differences in views can be seen as a direct comparison to Harding and Wood’s work.

                Aladdin demonstrates this theory in an unlikely way, utilizing academia to promote “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.” Although Harding and Wood focus primarily on the theory’s significance in relation to a feminist view of the world, the theory strongly applies to the Disney classic, helping viewers to understand the differing viewpoints based on social status.

Works Cited

Aladdin. Dir. John Musker and Ron Clements. By John Musker. Perf. Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, and Linda Larkin. Buena Vista Pictures, 1992.

Griffin, Emory A. A First Look at Communication Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.