The magic of Disneyland

Introduction
Walter Elias Disney is the “most influential American of the twentieth century” and has become a myth. He created an empire on a cartoon mouse and everything in this empire carries his signature. For his achievements one could call him the founder of postmodern America, a founder of an industry of fantasy that enriched the western culture. That it why the first part of my essay deals with him and his company. The main part is about one of his greatest realizations – Disneyland. Today, this amusement park is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the whole world.
Walt Disney brought to this theme park “all the skills and showmanship he had learned in three decades as a film maker”. He wanted to bring his Disney vision into material and physical existence, as well as providing a strong dose of American ideology. Disneyland represents the American dream – a world of magic and illusion, prosperity and happiness. It is a showcase for postmodernism and the embodiment of capitalism. But what makes Disneyland so magical. Why are so many people visiting this amusement park? After dealing shortly with the history and architecture of the park I will try to explain the success, the magic and the contradictions of Disneyland. Walter Elias Disney was born in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1906, his family moved to a farm in Missouri and in 1910 they moved to Kansas City. Soon it became visible that Walt Disney was interested in movies, especially of Charlie Chaplin, and drawing. After he left school at the age of 16, he became a volunteer ambulance driver in World War I where he served as a member of the American Red Cross Ambulance Force in France until 1919. After this experience he worked as an advertising cartoonist and started working on methods to perfect the combinations of animation and life action. Walt Disney started some business but with not much success. In 1923 he and his brother Roy Disney launched the Disney Brothers Studio with saved and lent money: “They bought a used camera, rented a tiny studio in the back of a real-estate office, moved into a one-room apartment together, hired a couple of assistants, and according to Walt began the process of making ‘the name Disney famous around the world’”.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Walter E. Disney
• The Walt Disney Company
• The Magic of Disneyland

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the legacy of Walter E. Disney and his creation, Disneyland, examining its influence on American culture and the postmodern era. The paper delves into Disney's entrepreneurial spirit, the development of his company, and the enduring appeal of Disneyland as a world-renowned tourist attraction.

• The significance of Walter E. Disney as a cultural figure and entrepreneur
• The impact of the Walt Disney Company on the media and entertainment industries
• The design and development of Disneyland, including its architectural elements and underlying ideology
• The factors contributing to Disneyland's enduring popularity and its role in promoting American values and culture
• The relationship between Disneyland and the concept of postmodernism

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces Walter E. Disney as a cultural icon and sets the stage for the essay's exploration of his achievements, particularly Disneyland. It highlights Disney's influence on postmodern America and the American dream, establishing the central theme of the park's "magic."
• Walter E. Disney: This chapter traces the life and career of Walter E. Disney, focusing on his early interests in film and animation, his founding of the Disney Brothers Studio, and the creation of Mickey Mouse. It also discusses Disney's successes in animation, his expansion into feature films, and his ventures into television and theme parks.
• The Walt Disney Company: This chapter provides an overview of the Walt Disney Company, its origins, and its evolution into a global entertainment empire. It discusses the company's main operating units, including Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, Media Networks, and Consumer Products, highlighting its scale and reach.
• The Magic of Disneyland: This chapter explores the origins and development of Disneyland, highlighting Walt Disney's vision for the amusement park, its underlying themes of fun and escapism, and its intended role in promoting American culture. It examines the design and planning process, Walt Disney's own personal investment in the park, and the contributions of "imaginers" who helped to bring his ideas to life.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Key themes and concepts explored in this essay include: Walter E. Disney, Walt Disney Company, Disneyland, postmodernism, American culture, American dream, entertainment, amusement park, animation, film, television, theme park design, architecture, fantasy, illusion, capitalism, consumerism, and cultural influence.

Details

• Hochschule: Technische Universität Dresden (Institut für Anglistik/ Amerikanistik)
• Veranstaltung: Basic Readings in North American Cultural Studies
• Note: 2,3
• Autor: Antje Schöne (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2006
• Seiten: 14
• Katalognummer: V92593
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638065573
• ISBN (Buch): 9783638952903
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Disneyland Basic Readings North American Cultural Studies