Friday, October 10, 2008

Images of Main Street - Due 10/15

1.  In "Images of Main Street: Disney World and the American Adventure", Virginia and Frank Salamone effectively describe how Disney World is a "sanitized reality."  In this "sanitized reality," adults and children alike are sent into another world where everything seems too good to be true.  Adults become nostalgic of their childhood and children are amazed by the cheeriness and magical nature of Main Street.  Disney effectively implements several features into the park and  Main Street in order to evoke the feelings of a "sanitized reality" into their visitors.  One way they evoke these feelings is by keeping the park clean and by the upbeat personalities of their employees.  When people enter Disney World, they are greeted with happy people and well-constructed buildings.  There are buildings meant to represent a different time period in the past, which are meant to evoke "memories of an America that never was but that many wish would be again."  Visitors to the park are intentionally led to believe that Disney World represents America and all of its values.  They want to believe that it is a reflection of our country.  It is meant to give visitors the feeling that America is basic and wholesome.  Although that is far from the truth, visitors can enjoy the optimistic nature of the park for at least a day or two, giving them a much-needed break from the mundane nature of the real world.  

2.  There are plenty of other examples of "sanitized realities" in the United States.  Obviously, some are not as effective as Disney World.  But many other theme parks do a pretty effective job of giving visitors an escape from the real world for a short period of time.  An example of such a place would be the many Six Flags amusement parks around the country.  Most of these theme parks have the theme of super heros and famous comic book characters.  Young children enter these parks and are amazed by the power of the roller-coasters, most of which are named after a different super hero.  Adults and children go on rides such as Batman, The Hulk, Superman, and others.  Adults often are nostalgic about the characters, many of whom were the subjects of comic books in their early childhoods.  Visitors to the park have an escape for a period of time where they can feel as if a world exists where there are superheroes to protect the streets and keep everyone safe.  Obviously, this is not true.  But Six Flags does a great job advertising their popular heroes in order to attract innocent children and nostalgic parents alike into their "sanitized reality."  

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