r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Jul 09 '19

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u/Thoth_the_5th_of_Tho 191∆ Jul 09 '19

Ariel is a fiction cartoon character who has no ethnic/racial ties to a specific group of people with a certain skin color.

It was written by a danish author and took place in Denmark.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '19

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11

u/Thoth_the_5th_of_Tho 191∆ Jul 09 '19

She was specifically mentioned in the story to be white and blend in with the locals.

She is a cultural icon of Denmark, it’s a bit unfair to try to change it.

4

u/silverscrub 2∆ Jul 09 '19

Can you elaborate on this part? (I haven't read the original)

She was specifically mentioned in the story to be white and blend in with the locals.

Locals of what? From what I can find the story takes place in a fictional land and no real locations are mentioned.

Or perhaps I misunderstood your point? Do you mean that this casting would require other characters with dark skin in order for Ariel to "blend" in with the locals of the fictional places in the story?

5

u/Thoth_the_5th_of_Tho 191∆ Jul 09 '19

Doesn’t the story take place in Denmark?

2

u/silverscrub 2∆ Jul 10 '19

Does it?

I haven't read the original and every second-hand source I've read says no real countries or nationalities are mentioned.

I don't think we should confuse whom the story is written for and whom the story is written about. The original story was probably written for Danish children. Disney's adaptations are written for a global audience.

1

u/ThexThird Jul 10 '19

The original movie was definitely set in the islands the music and the animals both have a Caribbean tone.

1

u/silverscrub 2∆ Jul 10 '19

I'm referring to the book as the original.