The Cultural Algorithm

In the oceanic depths of online content, there was a tiny litigious rodent named Mickey Mouse that consumed corporate giants to monopolize its stronghold on streaming platforms. When Mickey isn't floating around on his corporate steamboat Willieenjoying the excesses of his luxurious frugal billionaire lifestyle, this chauvinistic rat is pedaling G-rated content to millions of children all across the world with his new streaming service Disney+. Children's parents religiously subscribe to monthly subscription fees to keep their children glued to the TV for as long as possible. It's hard to ignore the amount of content available on Disney+, which signed up 10 million subscribers on its November 2019 launch, and the promise of more original content still on the way . While the children melt their brains with reruns of "Ducktales" or "Kim Possible" downstairs, what adult content (if any) do the parents get to watch on Disney+?

Disney’s new film “Mulan” has become a worldwide sensation, but not for the reasons one might think. The live-action film has generated an unusual amount of political debate. “Mulan,” directed by Niki Caro, is Disney’s remake of its 1998 animated film, based on the classic Chinese ballad. Due to the pandemic, the studio released the film on its streaming service Disney+, with plans to screen the film theatrically in countries where cinemas are open.

Nigeria is located on the western coast of Africa. The country has been home to a number of ancient pre-colonial states and kingdoms over the millennia. Modern Nigeria originated from British colonial rule beginning in the 19th century. Nigeria’s most diverse feature is its people; there are more than 250 ethnic groups with over 500 distinct languages all identifying with a wide variety of cultures.

As social media and technology advances, new types of video content services and user experiences are rapidly evolving. The blend of modern content creation and internet services has changed viewing habits, especially for newer generations. Though traditional television remains an important source of entertainment, increasingly, audiences now prefer to consume video-sharing on portable devices.

Very close to the equator is Ghana, a small tropical West African country Located right in the center of the world. Ghana's population is incredibly diverse, its citizens speak at least 79 different languages and dialects . The two main languages are Twi, spoken by the Ashanti community in the southern and central region, and Dagbani by the Dagomba people in the north. English emerged as the language of choice to bridge cultural differences in Ghana. It is the official language and even the national anthem is sung in English.

The moment fans have been waiting for is finally here! "Hamilton" is coming to Disney+ ! Fans of the Broadway favorite that "uses hip-hop to tell the story of founding father and America's first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton" have been clamoring for a televised version for years, and it's finally a reality. “Hamilton” is coming to Disney+ ! Fans of the Broadway favorite that “uses hip-hop to tell the story of founding father and America’s first treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton” have been clamoring for a televised version for years, and it’s finally a reality. You thought it was quiet uptown? Not after fans got a hold of the news! The historically based show has been hailed a masterpiece for Lin-Manuel Miranda. From its costumes to its musical lyrics, the show is visually stunning and the king of all earworms. But, as most fans will attest, Miranda does not shy away from language—with three instances of the F-word throughout the musical. By making “Hamilton” available on Disney+, Miranda’s hit show must abide by the ratings system set forth by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). This means that the musical’s iconic lyrics, though fun to sing at home, must be censored for a wider viewing audience. Lin-Manuel Miranda confirmed on Twitter that two swear words were censored in order to get a PG-13 rating. “In Yorktown, there’s a mute over “I get the f___ back up again” he wrote, adding that the other line is now, “Southern *record scratch*kin’ Democratic Republicans.” According to the MPA website, any type of content containing more than one strong expletive gets at least a R rating: “A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating.” Based on the Ron Chernow book of the same name, “Hamilton” has won many awards, including 11 Tony Awards (2016) and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama. While it is heralded as a modern breath of fresh air on Alexander Hamilton’s history, it is also applauded for casting Black, Latino, and Asian American actors for its original cast. Grab some popcorn and a seat on the couch, it’s showtime!

Netflix released the popular historical drama series “Vikings” in India in May 2020. However, to viewer’s shock it was a censored version. The show, released uncensored in US and Italy, comes with several cuts and blurs as reported by users. The scenes censored depict nudity, violence and even meat!

The impact of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis is reverberating across the world. In the entertainment industry, the incident and subsequent movement are compelling broadcasters in many countries to reassess available content for racially insensitive material. In the UK, an episode of the 1975 comedy sitcom "Fawlty Towers" was temporarily removed from BBC owned UKTV's streaming service as it contains offensive racist language. Scenes show an exchange between characters Major Gowen and his female friend where they refer to Indians using the 'N-word.'