Welcome to the wonderful world of Disney: where your fantasy and dreams come to life. Disney was an idea created by the man himself, Walt Disney. He wanted to create a world where dreams can come true, which has cultivated a culture of disney fans over the web, on the television, on the radio, and in Disney parks. Additionally, Disney is such a widespread company that almost any Disney product can be found around the world. The movies, shows, even the children books created by Disney are well known. Books such as Understanding Disney written by Janet Wasko addresses the Disney company and the concept of happiness that it provides its many fans around the world. The culture of Disney is made from the happiness it brings people, but when the …show more content…
The book introduces the audience first to the Disney Universe, which gives a broad perspective of how the idea of Disney was created, what Disney has done for the world, and how people around the world feel about this company. The fans of this company, which created the culture, of course fell in love with everything Disney, from the characters to the theme parks. The company has shaped entertainment for the world, creating new forms of entertainment including animations, children movies, colored films, and musical movies. These forms of entertainment have brought joy in some shape or form to their fans. The book introduces the audience to the examination of the history behind Disney, including how it all started and some major complications the company had to overcome. Some of the complications included money problems, work space issues, introducing the company in a way they will be accepted by the common world. In the book, Wasko also includes how Disney cartoons, stories, films and television programs were created. This book also goes into great detail how people around the world receive merchandise or Disney …show more content…
This book is very good at analyzing almost each aspect of the Disney company such as the history, the Disney Universe, and the world’s response. Understanding the company’s intentions helps to define the culture. Looking deeper into the company itself, the article “The Psychology of Disney”, written by Collide magazine, goes into detail about the four parts of Disney movies. This includes the formula, the animation, the music and any other patterns. This source also explains how the audience mind is affected by each of these different aspects mentioned. When looking deeper into the movies, the darker parts-- including the original stories these movies are based off of--can show you that looking just at the surface of Disney movies provides the wrong impression. While the last source looks at the culture from a creator's point of view, this next source looks at the culture in a consumer's point of view. In the article “Does More Money Mean More Happiness?” written by Susie Poppick, it addresses if spending money really brings happiness. While the article questions if the money being spent by the consumer is really bringing the consumer happiness. The book brings up an example that Disneyland parks are actually built for guests to spend tons of money when they first enter the park. When first entering a Disney park there are food places and gift shops which draws people in,
“Despite the undeniable fanciful world of Disney’s shorts, it would be a grave mistake to associate people’s attachment to the Disney brand as nothing more than a desire for escapism.” (Page 113) She indicated that the society needed something that they could not identify with to “escape”. She also claims that Disney changed fairy tales and made it more fit for the American society. Disney portrayed the “American dream” of happily ever after and happy endings. She concluded that Walt Disney changed social myths and dreams in to a transformational literary form, and helped the grey and cloudy America have a little hope.
Presently, Disney known for its mass media entertainment and amusement parks technically bring warm feelings to many children and some adults. Personally, Disney elicits magical fantasies that children enjoy and further encourages imagination and creativity. For decades Disney has exist as an unavoidable entity with its famous global sensation and reach. Furthermore, Disney is a multibillion dollar empire with an unlimited grasp on individuals and territories. An empire per se, since they own many media outlets, markets, shops, etc., you name it they got it. However, the film Mickey Mouse Monopoly presents an entirely new perspective on the presumed innocence projected in Disney films. This film exposes certain traits Disney employs and exclusively portrays through its media productions, specifically cartoons for directing and nurturing influence beginning with children. Mickey Mouse Monopoly points out camouflaged messages of class, race, and gender issues in Disney films that occur behind the scenes intended to sway viewers towards adopting Disney values.
Walt Disney, creator of all things “happily ever after”, renowned for his work in movies and tv, is not only a famous animator and film producer, he is also a pioneer in American history by changing the lives of many through his encouraging work in movies. Walt Disney is important to the study of American history because he created movies and tv shows that taught happiness and heartbreak to children. He taught them that being small cannot hold you back from being mighty and doing the right thing. He revealed different cultures to children, and broadened their views on the world around them. In doing this, he widened global communication and the understanding of varieties of cultures and ethnicities (4).
The debate over the good and bad aspects of Disney movies has been going on for years. It has become a part of pop culture in a way never expected through things such as YouTube videos and meme’s. While looking at multiple Disney movies may give a wider range of example of both the good and the bad in Disney movies, to help depict the effects the movies actually have on kids it is most beneficial to study just one movie. Zia’s essay argues that Disney movies have a good influence on children by teaching them good life morals. However, one of her examples, Mulan, is not an example of achievement through hard work like Zia explains, but rather a change made through magic, and example of the horrible historical inaccuracies made in Disney movies and the lack of parental respect that they teach children.
Yet, as author Janet Wasko puts it: “There is the super fan, who doesn’t question Disney, and then there is the rejecter who wants nothing to do with Disney. The goal that you, as the reader, will hopefully attain, is to lie somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. Therefore, all of you “happy go-lucky” Disney fans all the way down to the “negative nellies” of Disney, my hope is that you will gain a new bit of knowledge through this and open your mind to a variety of opinions. Let me first start by saying, that although I myself may be one of those “happy go-lucky” Disney fans, this letter remains strictly unbiased. It is not my intention to persuade you to one side or to have you fall completely in love with the Disney Corporation.
According to Giroux (1996), animated movies are a part of children’s culture. Children’s culture consists of entertainment, artifacts, myths, etc. that are based around the notion of what it means to be a child. Animated movies, particularly Disney films, encourages the child’s imagination and fantasy to be enhanced, creates a drive within them to go on adventures and helps them develop an aura of innocence. Animated films are “teaching machines” (Giroux, 1996, p. 66). Disney films teach children about specific roles, values and ideals and also take them through the world of enchantment. It helps them to understand who they are and what it means to be a part of the society and an adult environment (Giroux, 1996). Disney characters are a reflection
Smith, Caroline. “The Not So Wonderful Word of Disney.” University of Alabama Arts & Sciences Department. Retrieved 13 Dec. 2013 from < http://www.english.uga.ed u/fyc/barnett/smith2006-07.pdf>.
Walt Disney World is a popular culture site that I have loved and respected ever since I went in 2001. In the following pages I will be talking about the history behind Walt Disney World, the reason why it is popular, the ideology that Walt Disney World reflects, the pleasurable aspects of Walt Disney World, and how gender norms that are seen at Walt Disney World. All of these ideas will be covered, discussed, and researched. Along with these ideas I will be delving into why I hold a love for Walt Disney World and how Walt Disney World lured me into loving them for more than 14 years. I will also go into how the gender norms that are at Walt Disney World reflect my own gender identity.
From Cinderella to Mickey Mouse, the Disney culture has always been a part of our lives. A brilliant man named Walt Disney in 1923 started the Disney Company. He brought magic and imagination into our world. I loved Disney and so did my parents and even my grandparents. I would dream about being a Princess who would someday be rescued by my very own Prince Charming. Even now that I am 20, I still love the feeling that The Wonderful World of Disney gives me. I love that children today still believe that their Prince Charming is going to sweep them off of their feet one day. It is hard to really believe that what happens in the Disney Fantasy world will actually happen in real life. We like to believe that anything we “dream” can come true,
Zipes, along with other scholars such as Eleanor Byrne and Martin McQuillan, authors of the book Deconstructing Disney, explore and catalogue the various ways in which Walt Disney-the man-and Disney-the corporation that is his legacy-perpetuate social figurations of race, gender and ethnocentrism through they films they produce. They furthermore critique Disney for reducing fairy tales to over-simplified, over-sanitized and over-sentimentalized banalities designed solely as a profit-generating products. Such analyses prove to be truly important work, as the socio-cultural ideas propagated by Disney, as well as the means by it executed such propagation prove key in unlocking the messages that are sent through seemingly harmless "entertainment". As Zipes keenly point out,
Who knew that the creation of one cartoon mouse would result in one of the greatest success stories all time, and it all started with an entrepreneur named Walt Disney. Walt Disney was a man who changed the world between his multibillionaire dollar companies including Disney movies, resorts and theme parks. He was a man who started from humble beginnings and has grown into a business mogul that set a standard for business and entrepreneurs for generations to come. The “American Dream” is viewed as success and accomplishment, usually associated with great amounts of money or assets. Although Walt Disney seemed like an idealist, was a true pioneer of the “American Dream”. Disney’s upbringing, business sense, ideas and personality all played a part in Disney becoming a model of the “American Dream.”
Becoming an adult comes with many harsh realities and shattered illusions. Things we once thought of as pure and sacred, many times ends up being nothing more than a facade. One of those shattering illusions that came with age was the emptiness of my favorite Disney characters. Disney illustrated innocent stories with fluffy rodents singing songs of hope, love and joy. As a young child, I was raised on the tales of many Disney princesses. I spent hours watching these beauties sing their way to happily ever after. However, I have examined some of the more horrifying themes present in Disney princess movies, resulting in my dislike for the Walt Disney Company.
What many people don’t know is that Mickey Mouse wasn’t always a good influence to not only children but to many others also. Over the years Mickey Mouse has evolved into an icon that is worthy of children’s attention and their parents’ money. Through the use of movies, television shows, video games, theme parks and merchandise Mickey Mouse affects most children’s lives every day even if it isn’t noticeable. Mickey Mouse has also given rise to many big movie productions and sales. While being educational Mickey Mouse also entertains children and teaches them a lesson that children enjoy and find fun. Not only does Mickey Mouse have educational purposes he also tries to form a Utopia environment for all families that use and watch Mickey’s products.
Disney is labeled to be “The most magical place on earth”, as said by Walt Disney. Disney is a very magical place for children and families who have never experienced the theme parks and those for those are Disney obsessed. Disney has been around for so many years, and has changed in all aspects of its growth as a company from the content they put on their shows and
Likewise, consumers and especially parents should stay cautious when Disney is indeed a billion dollar company. The Disney Company shapes social culture and they should change their entertainment into one that promotes individuality. Just how does Disney manage to become as popular as it is now? “Disney’s Frozen, which earned more than $1.2 billion at the box office, is not only the first ‘princess’ movie to make the list of top 10 grossing animated films, but