FYSP 055 - Deconstructing Disney

FC SSCI WINT

4 credits
The Disney Corporation is one of the most powerful media and entertainment conglomerations in the world. Its products have had a profound impact on American culture and have been enjoyed by millions, perhaps billions, of people. This first-year seminar explores why the Disney Corporation has been so successful; examines how its films, cartoons, and theme parks have shaped Americans’ perceptions of race, nation, gender, sexuality, and class for over a century; and considers what Disney can teach us about creativity and the production of pleasure. Students will be encouraged to uncover the messages embedded in Disney’s products, to explore their own emotional connections to popular culture, and to consider the role of corporations in American life, historically and today. Class time includes screenings of films, cartoons, and documentaries.