Project on Disney

The Project on Disney it should be titled the Project AGAINST Disney. This book takes a high handed better than though over educated look at Disney World. It's not really a look at the dark side of Disney or even the bad of Disney. It's more people looking down their nose at the joy that Disney can bring to so many people. The first chapter is a woman taking pictures of others at Disney World. She's there as an observer, think an anthropologist takes pictures of some strange tribe. They also have "The Alternative Ride" where they are looking at everything for what it really is, all of thematic elements and how everyone is supposed to be happy but with a critical eye, not for the joy of it. A chapter is entitled "Working for the Rat" this is the views from several employees. Although the employees may deride their job they also in the same sentence will protect it and the park itself. I was hoping for behind the scenes type of things, instead I ended up with a book that read more like an anthropology book with people who believe themselves better than all the others at the park. Not fun to read at all. Would never suggest it to anyone.… (mais)

If only I had a dollar for every time this book said "postmodern"...

A very critical, albeit elitist ivory tower look at Disney World. I think it's possible to critique something you like, if anything it makes the criticism more potent. Many books do this with Disney World, my favorite being Vinyl Leaves. This book, however, critiques WDW while keeping it at arm's length. I don't think many people go to Disney World expecting it to be "real," and I dislike the author's presumptions that plebians without sociology PhDs have so much wool over their eyes that they go to WDW, thinking everything is totally real, and are just completely hoodwinked by the consumerism aspect of the park. It is possible to go to Disney World critical of the way it is... and still have a good time! Too bad these academics only have good times at cocktail parties debating Baudrillard, or whatever it is they do.… (mais)

I completely agree with what Biblioadonis says about this book. However, I found it to be a good read, if only to chuckle at the self-imposed cultural isolation of the academics who wrote and assembled this collection. This isn't a bad approach to take with regards to Disney, but this work is painfully based on a priori attitudes that don't serve cultural analysis well.

Throughout the book, the authors repeat a number of negative myths about Walt Disney and Disney World as though they are gospel truth. It is really hard to take them seriously given the inability to do some basic research and fact checking. As a simple example, I think it's repeated a handful of times that Walt is frozen somewhere. When will that myth go away?

Some things they declare are flat out ludicrous. Epcot is a symbolic necropolis for Walt? Okey dokey, if that sort of statement gets you invited to the right cocktail parties, then good for you.

I did enjoy the photographs, which are wry and interesting. Less effective is an essay pointing out that the photographs are wry and interesting. Enough with the smug back-patting, folks, let your work speak for itself.

There are nuggets here and there, and some insights, but it is painfully strained for the most part. If you have a thick skin, and enjoy all things Disney, I wouldn't say "stay away", but look for it in a bargain bin somewhere, take it in the right spirit, and enjoy what you can from it.… (mais)

http://www.imaginerding.com/2008/02/daily-figment-158-book-review-inside.html

Did you ever have a book that you were loathe to finish? One that you didn't want to spend time with?

Let me tell you about one. I was excited when I got my copy of this book. It has been around for a number of years, but not many people have talked about. Now I know why.

I've seen the terms pompous, boring, irrelevant and "ivory tower" used to describe this work. I agree.

The authors (all academics) take on Walt Disney World, but they never look beyond the ends of their noses. They land smack dab in the middle of the Disney Decade and all they see is mass consumerism and an idle shift in corporate values. They also see us, the visitors to Walt Disney Word as a heard of brand-induced and crowd-mentality fodder for the turnstyles, gist shops, restaurants and hotels. In all of their interviews and anecdotes, it is apparent that they never talked to anyone that had a inkling of what a Disney vacation is supposed to be.

The book did have three redeeming chapters: Working at the Rat, Public Use / Private State and Monuments to Walt. Working at the Rat consists of interviews with castmembers that connote that working for Disney is tantamount to forced, temporary labor. No chance for advancement and every chance of being let go before you get permanent status. Granted, the tone is pretty negative and it is obvious that only the "lower echelons" of Disney castmembers were interviewed. Looking at this chapter, one would surmise that working for the Mouse is extremely cut-throat. Public Use / Private State made me step outside of my normal tourist pursuits and see how we interact with the private (re:corporate-owned) areas like the theme parks. Even though they are private, we are expected to use them as public spaces, i.e. a park, mall area or town square. Disney champions what most other businesses can't: use us like you were at home, albeit a care-free and safe home. The chapter I enjoyed the most was Monuments to Walt. The author looked at current architectural motifs and themes and discussed how Disney was using them to gain a means. A means of continuing the storytelling to the resorts and eateries. There is still some lambasting, but mostly to the end that the author believes that what exists today is because the leadership of the company, until Eisner, constantly prayed at the altar of "What Would Walt Do." The author proclaims that Epcot is merely a necropolis dedicated to Walt. That is why it fails.

Those sections, mentioned above, were the highlights of the book...and that ain't sayin' much!

The most thought-provoking section is entitled, The Alternative Ride. The author questions how we deal with images incongruent with what Disney presents: kissing, hand-holding, angst (think teens) and other images that aren't white, middle-class, middle-American "values". How they can shock us and force us to step outside of our vacation experience.

The Bottom Line: This book is not worth reading or adding to your collection. I hate to post such a negative review, but for us Disney Geeks, there are so many better titles out there.… (mais)