Wonderful world of Disney

or unimportant reasons, I found myself in Orlando, Fla., recently. On its own, this is nothing remarkable, but the fact is, that in essence, Orlando has come to equal Disney - which gives us provocative food for thought. Disney World is the fourth most frequented pilgrimage site in the world - gaining on the third-place site, Mecca, every year. More than 75 percent of the children, who make their "wishes" by the Make A Wish Foundation, request a trip to Disney World. Why is this? Fantasy, right? We all want fantasy. Syrupy friendliness. Cleanliness without crime, poverty, ripped clothes - we want to live in a Disney cartoon, right?

The imagination, by definition, is a completely individual, unique, creative entity. No two person's imaginations are alike. But in comes Disney, and all of that is changed. Disney earns its money (a lot of it) by concretizing a collective imagination. But how can that be? If an imagination is an individual, unique entity, how could any corporation capitalize on it by selling it as a collective experience? It's a puzzle, isn't it? Imagination - the one thing you thought no one could ever put a price on, has been turned into a multibillion-dollar industry.

But it seems harmless enough, doesn't it? For $50 a day the kids are happy. Hot dogs and smiles all around. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy - come on, these are friendly characters - a positive use of the collective imagination, right? Those mouse ears are cute, aren't they? So what if A.A. Milne never intended Winnie the Pooh to be a corporate trademark, the kids don't mind. Besides, Disney has become so educational in recent years. Epcot is a lesson in the cultural diversity of the world, isn't it? There are no reinforcements of stereotypes here. Disney treats all country representations equitably, don't they?

A fresh batch of natives brought in each year to inhabit their Disney-constructed land. Each country given that special Disney happy flavor - the "natives" are never restless here, why should they be? They have been magically transformed into American capitalists - hawking the wares of their country, so they too are doing their duty in contributing to the Disney bank. What a vision Disney has - turning all the countries of their choosing into centers corporately owned and existing for the sole purpose of making money. The new world orderŠa sort of test model for exploitation. It is a model, right?

But again, it's good for the kids, isn't it? They never have to travel to see the Great Wall of China - they've seen it on a 360-degree Dolby stereo theater. What can be better? What do you mean by poverty in Mexico - I thought it was one big fiesta of hat dances and guitars. Morocco - no racism there, no extremist groups. It's just a place to buy pottery and finger cymbals. And besides, it's all so clean, and they all speak English too- isn't this always how you imagined it would be? An American child might, yes. But to concretize fantasies that education should be working to dispel is a criminal act. Criminal, because it does nothing but enforce stereotypes, ethnocentrism and exploitation. But we forget ourselves. This is not about education, it is about making money. Corporate-manipulated countries - it's the Disney family vision.

But even having countries, separate cultures, which need to be manipulated, is a real struggle and a hindrance to corporate profit. Welcome to "Future World!" Disney's answer to the hindrance of cultures effecting profit margins. "Future World" is run completely by the corporations, the countries have magically disappeared as a thing of the past. And for this grand spectacle, Disney has enlisted the help of some of their friends.

Exxon presents you with the history and future of energy. They explain why wind, solar and hydro power are truly inefficient on a grand scale. Fossil fuel is our life blood and offshore drilling is the safest, cleanest and most productive way to ensure our continued sustenance and prosperity. They are just stating the obvious facts, right? MetLife (insurance) is the center for health and the human body. AT&T presents us with the history and future of the world's communication. General Motors is working on their transportation station to be completed shortly. The corporate-imagined future: everything working together to bring fewer and fewer people more and more profits. But of course, it will be better for everyone, won't it? Progress, right? A better world - safer, cleaner, easier, more convenient, cleanerŠoh, did I say that one already? But it will be better, right? Right?

Of course! Why else would we ride their rides of light and hear the sounds of oooing and ahhing over their fantastic marvels? We are not being manipulated, are we? We're not being duped, right? Sure, they are making a lot of money, but our lives are getting better too, right?

Funny, you know, the whole mouse thing. All those people - kids, adults, even grandparents, walking around Disney with mouse ears on - cute, isn't it? It's almost like they're big human lab mice running through a maze designed by a corporate technician. They are running after the cheese (product) and trying to reach an endpoint. But there is no end point in this maze. The lab mice are merely dispensable units employed to serve the technician. In this case, so the technician can make a lot of money. I don't knowŠjust a thought. But it's good for the kids, right? They like it. Snow White, Cinderella, Dumbo - it's harmless, isn't it? There's no wickedness here - none of that. Come on Hansel and Gretel. Come on. That's it. YesŠwarm in there, isn't it?

Jonathon A. Flaum is a graduate student in playwriting.

Copyright 1999 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 136, No. 49 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999), beginning on page 4 and ending on page 6.