Rethinking Disney: Private Control, Public Dimensions

by Mike Budd (Editor), Max H. Kirsch (Editor)

Wide-ranging interdisciplinary essays look at the Disney empire.

In recent years, the Walt Disney Company has grown far beyond its beginnings in animated films and theme parks to become a major multinational corporation with global reach. As the company's activities have grown more complex and its influence more ubiquitous, both its internal practices and its attempts to control its now global public environment have generated conflicts that contradict the classic Disney publicity image. The 11 wide-ranging, interdisciplinary essays in this collection cover topics including Animal Kingdom; Gay Days at the theme parks; Disney's connection to sweatshops; commodification of The Lion King on Broadway; the transformation of Winnie the Pooh; Disney's experience in urban planning in Times Square and Celebration, Florida; and Disney's America. A comprehensive introduction contextualizes the essays and relates them to earlier Disney studies.

CONTRIBUTORS include Lee Artz, Sean Griffin, Dick Hebdige, Radha Jhappan, Daiva Stasiulis, and Susan Willis.

360 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was amazing!!! Especially my essay.

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read -- delves into many of the facets of the Walt Disney company and its effects on the world. Some chapters feel like they repeat, others feel too nuanced for me to care about, but overall, it's a great way to delve into Disney studies