Gwatter06, Dorfman

I was very intrigued by our reading assignment on Disney because right off the bat I realized that it was on something similar that I have already covered in another CMC course. Therefore, I was interested in observing the similarities and the differences that the different authors had on a similar topic. Both authors focused on animated fetishism and how Disney’s fantasmic wonderland affects the societal overlook of children. Focusing more on Dorfman, he illuminates the societal and cultural structures that are affected by Disney’s worldwide impact and dominance. After deciphering the playful banter by the author in the beginning of the excerpt I began to understand the issues being upheld by Disney’s corporation and it’s mainstream societal effects. In examining this Dorfman states, “Disney is part – an immortal part, it would seem – of our common collective vision” (123). Dorfman explained how popular and influential Disney is worldwide, what I understand from this is that children are latching onto Disney as peer mentors, for lack of a better term, and Disney’s aura of a utopian perfection will lead to children’s misperception of life. It is true in the sense that kids getting caught up in a fantasy world in which characters directly relate to their own issues will ultimately grasp influential formalities that undermine real life situations and struggles that children will have to endure. Dorfman also exemplifies these probable misconceptions to the relationship of the adult and the child pertaining to Disney. He points our that the authors are adults, trying to interpret what the life of a child is like, but instead is predetermining the life of a child should be like. Dorfman illustrates this notion in stating, “adults create for themselves a childhood embodying their own angelical aspirations…” (126). This creates a new reality for a child, not embracing their own, but it rather isolates the child from the reality of the everyday.