Mystical Angels

Is Disney and US culture a threat to Muslim and Arab culture

Summary: Is Disney and US culture a threat to Muslim and Arab culture or to be embraced as part of a diverse world When Disney on Ice came recently to Jakarta far from a clash of cultures the shadows of Indonesian mysteries and mysticism bore a close resemblance to the wonderful world of Disney Disney on Ice presents Princess of Wishes was a whirlwind ice fantasia with Micky Mouse Minnie Goofy Aladdin Princess Jasmine Prince Philip a wicked witch a wily octopus Cinderella Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stringing together vigorous vignettes and sparkling performances in the genre of a 1001 Nights extremely well done with enough professional props to hold up the economy The boat floating on ice was convincing carrying passengers from the audience to prove it the motorized fairy carriage glided fantastically across the ice while the dragon breathing fire seemed in serious danger of melting a hole in the ice and falling through it Family entertainment and Disney are selling wishes and wonderment while the world around us is only just maybe leveling out from an economic nose dive Children love Disney anyway but mums and dads also need a little bit of magic to take their minds off their mortgages and their money or the lack of it Like Disneyland Indonesia through the mystical traditions of Java is also a land of wonders and mysteries and the proverbial struggle between good and evil with princes princesses genies jins and fairies taking on the powers of the underworld The slaying of dragons is more than mythology It reflects a human need to identify evil and be seen to slay the dragon that represents it whereas in real life the struggle for survival economic and social development and justice is never so black and white So the dragon breathing fire was slayed on ice but by prince charming and not by St George of England So much easier if Aladdin or a benevolent Caliph could ride in on a white horse and slay your dragons for you and not bring with him more evil than he disposed of But this is dreamland and we live in reality So when the wicked wily octopus Ursula with many hands in nearly everything sets up the enchanted mermaid Ariel to take the charming prince away from the fair princess Jasmine then Indonesians could see the shadows of the wayang kulit the Javanese shadow puppets animated by the strings of power We are used in Indonesia to understanding society that way and have long used this traditional Javanese entertainment genre to be able to shine the light of understanding on darker places and relationships where we are still afraid to go and which many would prefer to leave alone In the Javanese mysticism that still haunts the mind of Indonesians the evil under the sea is still there and can take your life if you do not respect its power So the modern global world of wishes and wonder of Disney was not so far from the heart and soul of traditional Indonesia as we might think And when the Fairy Godmother told Cinderella That the road to true love may be barred by many dangers we were coming back to reality Is Disney and US culture a threat to Muslim and Arab culture or to be embraced as part of a diverse world When Disney on Ice came recently to Jakarta far from a clash of cultures the shadows of Indonesian mysteries and mysticism bore a close resemblance to the wonderful world of Disney Disney on Ice presents Princess of Wishes was a whirlwind ice fantasia with Micky Mouse Minnie Goofy Aladdin Princess Jasmine Prince Philip a wicked witch a wily octopus Cinderella Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stringing together vigorous vignettes and sparkling performances in the genre of a 1001 Nights extremely well done with enough professional props to hold up the economy The boat floating on ice was convincing carrying passengers from the audience to prove it the motorized fairy carriage glided fantastically across the ice while the dragon breathing fire seemed in serious danger of melting a hole in the ice and falling through it Family entertainment and Disney are selling wishes and wonderment while the world around us is only just maybe leveling out from an economic nose dive Children love Disney anyway but mums and dads also need a little bit of magic to take their minds off their mortgages and their money or the lack of it Like Disneyland Indonesia through the mystical traditions of Java is also a land of wonders and mysteries and the proverbial struggle between good and evil with princes princesses genies jins and fairies taking on the powers of the underworld The slaying of dragons is more than mythology It reflects a human need to identify evil and be seen to slay the dragon that represents it whereas in real life the struggle for survival economic and social development and justice is never so black and white So the dragon breathing fire was slayed on ice but by prince charming and not by St George of England So much easier if Aladdin or a benevolent Caliph could ride in on a white horse and slay your dragons for you and not bring with him more evil than he disposed of But this is dreamland and we live in reality So when the wicked wily octopus Ursula with many hands in nearly everything sets up the enchanted mermaid Ariel to take the charming prince away from the fair princess Jasmine then Indonesians could see the shadows of the wayang kulit the Javanese shadow puppets animated by the strings of power We are used in Indonesia to understanding society that way and have long used this traditional Javanese entertainment genre to be able to shine the light of understanding on darker places and relationships where we are still afraid to go and which many would prefer to leave alone In the Javanese mysticism that still haunts the mind of Indonesians the evil under the sea is still there and can take your life if you do not respect its power So the modern global world of wishes and wonder of Disney was not so far from the heart and soul of traditional Indonesia as we might think And when the Fairy Godmother told Cinderella That the road to true love may be barred by many dangers we were coming back to reality

Image Dimensions: 202 x 43