10-10-2024, 12:18 PM
(10-09-2024, 12:23 AM)UltraBudgie Wrote: Disney used to pride themselves on "imagineering". And, they meant it, too -- they wanted to create dreamscape, fancies of imagination, otherworld funscapes, because they thought, first, that that's an essential part a living human experience, and second, because it's the right thing to do: to inspire, delight, and enlighten ourselves and future generations. Love, for our children and inner-childs.
At the same time, they've always had a very sophisticated grasp of mass psychology, capitalism, marketing, and media. It's just that somehow, one was able to exist within the framework of the other. I don't think that's the case any more.
Yes Disney does face problems of viability of business models, changing delivery technology, brand dilution, etc., but they've navigated those shoals in the past, and they could again. I think the real problem they face is they've lost the genuineness of their idealism. And really, that's not a Disney-specific problem. I think they genuinely have trouble finding young idealistic talent for content creation that hasn't been affected by late-stage American capitalist cynicism. The best they seem to do is to find bright-eyed deconstructionist would-be social reengineers, who, say what you will about them, at least have a fervent vision that apes the idealism that built the Mouse.
It's both Disney's problem, because they in some ways built the 20th Century American fever-dream of capitalist-driven utopianism fantasy, and it's not Disney's problem, because it's America's, and we all have to live in the popped bubble of disenchantment that is all that remains.
Im guessing the Herbie the Love Bug and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes movies were a little more impactful for you than me.
there's always been an ebb and flow with content and yes it usually happens when a GENERATION GROWS UP its no secret Disney had hard time adjusting in the late 60s and 70s but the original Ariel, Alladin and his blue genie built a bridge to Pixar and billions in revenue and the beginning of Mickey's world domination tour
The problem is creative storytelling is hard enough without trying to include one version of every human distinction in every story while making sure certain subgroups are the heroes and certain subgroups are not
in today's Disney Old Yeller would be an emotional support service animal for a lesbian fictional brand barista who attends Columbia University
His mind was not for rent to any god or government, always hopeful yet discontent. Knows changes aren't permanent, but change is ....
Professor Neil Ellwood Peart
Professor Neil Ellwood Peart