POPULAR CULTURE - Disney Introduction Popular Culture is an aspect of society that appeals to the majority of the population. Certain practices and beliefs are shared by the majority of people to create large scale acceptance, understanding and experience. Disney entertains and instructs because it offers a cinematic escape from reality by presenting recognisable narrative or imagistic fiction as if they were or could be part of reality. In part, the fantasies and their narratives are shielded from external critiques because they are based on widely accepted cultural myths and morals. Disney inhibits the four main characteristics of a popular culture. Created and Developed The Walt Disney Company started in 1923 in a small office occupied …show more content…
The idea of mythology forms the basis of all Disney movies with recurring themes of good wins over evil, in which evil characters are portrayed as ugly, the representation of the ideal life, and the gender images the movies convey. The recurring theme of the ideal life in which good wins over evil is a mythological constant in Disney movies, and often the end result is someone (usually a woman “damsel in distress”) being saved and living happily ever after with the handsome prince. These stories present a false reality, playing into gender stereotypes significantly. Typically women in Disney movies are shown in a position of princess, queen or homemaker, often illustrated as subservient to the male characters, inhibiting stereotypical feminine traits such as: obedience, submissiveness, dependent, emotional, nurturing, affectionate, gentle and sensitive. Similarly the stereotypical masculine traits are explored in Disney movies in which males are seen as achievement-ambition oriented, self-reliant, self confident, independent, responsible, dominant, aggressive and violent. It is interesting to note how many Disney women go from being the possession of their father, right into the possession of the husband or another male. For example Ariel is handed over from her father to prince Eric, Jasmine …show more content…
This statement sufficiently emphasises the goals of Disney. Although not seeking to create a popular culture, the company of Disney did however wish to be accessible, establishing footholds not only in motion pictures but in such diverse industries as television, electronic media, book publishing, hotels, transportation, tourism, amusement parks, real estate, and sports and communication. Starting merely with the image of Mickey Mouse which expanded from local to Global consumption and influence, the accessibility of Disney is constantly evolving to represent its context and the consumption patterns of the individual. The consumers of Disney cannot be narrowed down to one demographic or gender. Although originally created for children, evident through the original Walt Disney movies, and cartoon series, aspects of Disney (such as the divisions of Disney that now create Disney Caribbean cruises) show its accessibility to reach a wider audience. The growth in technology has also allowed persons to have greater access to Disney products and entertainment services. E-commerce, in particular internet avenues such as E-Bay have introduced the possibility for particular products of the Disney popular culture to be accessed and bought from anywhere in the world, thus allowing the globalisation of Disney to occur, in which national borders are no longer barriers to accessing Disney products. The full list of Disney products displayed