The next several pages contain my master's thesis. If you find it enlightening, here are some interesting links:

Introduction    Literature Review    Methodology     Analysis    Discussion    Notes     Works Cited

ABSTRACT:

The Disney company has created a cultural "world" through its entertainment ventures. The purpose of this study was to discover, through analysis of animated films, promotional material and corporate artifacts, who is excluded from the cultural landscape of Disney’s world. In other words, what are the consistent and recurring themes throughout Disney’s world and how do they construct the Disney world order?

In the tradition of critical cultural studies, I have conducted a qualitative textual analysis of Disney’s animated films produced since 1989, three promotional videos for its theme parks, a television program celebrating the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World, and corporate literature produced for Disney shareholders.

I have identified three ideological themes. First, the existence of a tension between adventure and traditional family values signifies the conflict inherent within these ideological messages. In the Disney world, marriage is forwarded as the antidote to the adventuresome spirit. Once married, one may seek adventure within the confined space of Disney theme parks. Second, Disney has created "other" worlds whose inhabitants are viewed as barbarians, savages and heathens. In its theme parks, the goods and services of these inhabitants may be safely enjoyed through the artificial reconstruction of their "world" within the Disney world. Finally, in the animated Disney world, wealth may be attained only through inheritance or marriage. Wealth is necessary for power and neither may be attained through "hard work." In its parks, Disney residents don’t work, but are ranked according to their individual wealth. The Disney company does not follow the rules it sets out for inhabitants of its world.

Disney’s world is truly small. Disney has the power to reproduce and transmit ideologies of the dominant culture that maintain its authority as producers of cultural texts. The stories of Disney imagineers construct the limits of the Disney world and confine its inhabitants to pre-determined roles within its society. The limits of the Disney world correspond to the limits of the "real world" wherein subordinate peoples have limited choices in the world of the dominant culture. As Disney’s power grows stronger, the kingdom they rule grows bigger.

© Copyright 1996, Deana Michelle Hoisington.