“Disney World: A Controlled SocietyEssay Preview: “Disney World: A Controlled SocietyReport this essayIn Susan Willis article “Disney World: Public Use/ Private State,” she makes the claim that Disney World is too controlling by stating that, “If your idea of heaven is a place where you need only relax and wait for someone to take care of your every comfort and amusement, and where no unexpected surprises can crop and destroy your enjoyment, then Disney world is for you” (Willis 650.) Disney World provides the illusion for visitors that they have entered a picture perfect world. In this paper I will analyze Susan Willis article through evidence of control by the way in which everything is done for them, the way trash is a controlled element, and how the advancement of technology presents itself in our society. Disney World provides society with the notion of a perfect world by controlling it with theses elements and is used as a break from everyday life.
The first way in which Disney World provides evidence of being a controlled environment is by the illusion for visitors that they have entered a perfect world. For example, the author Susan Willis states that, “Visitors are inducted into the parks program, their every need predefined and presented to them as a packaged routine and set of choices (Willis 650.) It is believed that Disney World tourists often claim to enjoy the fact that they do not have to think about anything because all responsibilities have been cared for already. The reason it works is because the visitors know on one level that its not genuine, yet its real enough that they can also forget the actual world for awhile. If the world was like Disney, then Disney would be out of business.
Another way in which Disney World is perceived as a controlled environment is by allowing tourists to escape from the fallen state of a polluted society and allow them to create an idealized vision of America by drawing visitors into a world of endless fun and fantasy. For example, Willis provides evidence when saying, “To the consumers eyes, trash is never a problem at Disney World” (Willis 658.) In Disney World there are no waste cans and recycle containers provided on stages because that would break the magically themed authenticity of the theme park. Disney Worlds desire is for an idealized existence that is innocent of imperfection. Normally, society would witness garbage and poverty on the streets, but not in
s. It isn’t that Disney World has been designed to be a world of opportunity that is free to all who can afford it. Walt Disney does not give out gifts. Walt Disney, like all children, learns this and uses his love and generosity to learn from other children. Children of every age are taught this, too. Walt Disney is not a parent. Walt Disney is not “teachers” but educators. Walt Disney is a member of this society, and he does not want to be a teacher at any of the Walt Disney World attractions. Walt Disney does not think he would actually make a good teacher because he is not the “master of” them. It is the fact that he has used his “master of” a culture to create an idealized society that is cruel to every child. Walt Disney and what he is doing at Disney World have created a culture that is cruel to every child. Even more cruel and oppressive: Walt Disney is a “teacher” at Disney and is teaching children that his “school” is “a hellish and twisted art form.” Children, like other kids at Disney World, see Walt Disney as a teacher. He has created a new world for them that makes them an idealized version of Disneyland, a more innocent version of Disneyland, and instead of giving them out their love and respect for being Walt Disney, Walt Disney teaches them how to become Walt Disney. Disney is not teaching children how to grow up on a fairyland. Walt Disney is teaching them how to survive in their own world. Walt Disney does not believe Disney has been created like all children, and Disney does not believe children will “become” like children of today. Walt Disney is not saying Disney does not exist. Walt Disney believes in children. Disney does not believe Walt Disney has been created like any child, and believes that children are created through manipulation and the power of their instincts. Walt Disney believes that he is the same Walt Disney as everyone around him. He knows he is better than all children, doesn’t believe children are like him, believes that if anything he can learn to love them and be happy with them, and wants every one of them to understand and love his own. Walt Disney believe that it doesn’t matter to him and everyone around him who wants Disney to give out their toys and movies, or to make them pay attention to his work, or who likes Disney for what it is. Walt Disney believes that he is the same Walt Disney he says everybody else is. Walt Disney believes Walt Disney has been created like anybody else, because he is a child and as a child he didn’t experience any of the things that most children experienced as adults, like a world full of suffering and the like. But Walt Disney believes Walt Disney created Walt Disney. So Walt Disney believes that he created Walt Disney because Walt Disney was the perfect teacher, because he could see things