NewYorker 2/21

Class discussion was very interesting. It's interesting how one single quote can be interpreted so many different ways, as was exhibited in class. But I really liked talking about Disney, and reality vs fantasy / what is real and what is fake. I always think of theme parks as an escape from reality, even Universal or Six Flags. Everything in that environment, in the park, is man made, and sometimes I feel as though I am walking through a fake town. Especially Main Street in Disney, where everything is perfect. Even when people are walking around in Mickey/Minnie ears, or glow in the dark/light up necklaces and beads, in the parks this is looked at as normal. One can walk around wearing almost anything, and paraphenalia, and henna tattoos or hair wraps, and no one looks at them thinking they are weird - it is accepted at the parks. Even if someone is holding onto a souvenier cup that is gigantic and decorated following some sort of theme, that is perfectly acceptable. However, once you step foot outside of the park with these things, it becomes weird and out of the ordinary - because you are not in fantasy land anymore, you are out in the real world.
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Also how we spoke about: "Disneyland tells us that technology can give us more reality than nature can (203)." The weird thing is, is that it is so true. On the safari rides you get to see everything. In Animal Kingdom, all of the animals are out for show, and you are guaranteed to see what you came for. Compare this to real nature, the stories you told about Old Faithful, plus many other examples, nature cannot be guaranteed. Even when they say there will be a meteor shower, sometimes it cannot be seen due to cloudy/foggy weather, but go to a planetarium, and see whatever you want. But I don't see anything wrong with creating nature. Why not be able to see what a safari has to offer? Why not see all the stars in the sky? This could make people compare the real and the fake, and to appreciate nature even more. To realize that nature has its own patterns, and works randomly.