welcome to disneys world
Disneyland, Disney World, and Euro Disney sound like magical places, places that conjure up only fond memories and images of the true 'American' culture. Disney has taken this culture to all corners of the world showing the wonders of our great society, right? Disney's movies are some of the top grossing films, the toys are selling off the shelves, and if you look at bus full of preschoolers, a large number of them are bound to be wearing a piece of clothing donning a Disney character. The hand of Disney has grabbed hold of our children, but what do we really know about this stranger? Disney is a large multi-national corporation with its eye on financial success. This success drives this company to exploit the resources and people of other nations while maintaining an image that is respected within the American society. Not only does Disney exploit other cultures, it also produces films, supposedly idealizing 'American values', that consistently contain racism, sexism, homophobia, and ethnocentrism thereby exploiting our own. Sweat-shops are not a new issue in international business. We, as North Americans, have become painfully aware of the exploitation taking place in numerous coun
Many feel that interpretations similar to those expressed above are going 'overboard' in complexity. The statement, "a child couldn't possibly understand that" is often voiced. However, it may be a mistake to underestimate children. If a child understands the language he or she will pick up on some, if not all, of the implications within the film. Disney is a mainstay in American culture and eliminating it as an influence is practically impossible. What is possible is education and consumer awareness. If the consumer is exposed to the business practices of this multi-national corporate monster, he or she may be more inclined to take action, such as writing to the CEO or reducing his or her support for the company. As well, once educated, the parent or consumer can be a more active viewer of the films and can discuss such issues with the children. Disney is teaching our children moral and values, but who's morals are they? We do not have to live in Disney's world and we should ensure that our children can find their own magical place, a place free of hypocrisy, racism, and false morals. The business activities are certainly a major concern, but the message within the Disney productions perhaps has a larger consequence in our society. What is Disney really telling our children? Disney's films repeatedly reinforce the oppressive status-quo by placing the hero or heroine in the upper class of the society by constantly casting the roles the heroes with predominately Anglo-Saxon American type voices. The villains, therefore, must be of a different ethnicity. Recently the Arab anti-defamation league filed suit against Disney on grounds that the Arab
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1126
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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