The general area of this research is media studies and American studies, but I also was able to bring in aspects of anthropology as well, while studying culture through media. I decided to focus specifically on how Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Corporation have simultaneously influenced and become a symbol of American culture. This research topic is relevant because it shows how an anthropological approach to the entertainment industry can illuminate its impact on the culture and society of the US in the twentieth century. The impact of the media on society is felt more dramatically than ever before in human history due to the introduction of film, television, and, in the last decade of the twentieth century, the internet. For this research, I used scholarly articles, books, news outlets, and essays. My major findings are that, nationally, the stories and characters produced by the Disney Corporation have informed how generations of American children viewed American history and understand American values. They offer a simplistic and romanticized interpretation of dominant themes in American culture: Manifest Destiny, the American Dream, the Wild West and the Frontier. Globally they have also shaped the American image abroad, offering an idealized portrayal of American history along the same lines, particularly in the structure of the Disney theme parks. Following graduation, I plan on going to law school with the intent of becoming a human rights lawyer. Research such as this is relevant because becoming a lawyer is crucial to having well-honed researching skills. Furthermore, in order to understand the laws of a country, one must understand the culture that informed these laws. Disney’s influence over American culture is just one example of the ways in which culture is dynamic. In order to understand how a culture can be changed to the benefit of its people, one must understand how it changes. I believe that an understanding of culture will help in my future career to promote the advancement of human rights.
Author: Michelle Staggs
Advisor: Professor Oana Godeanu Kenworthy, Department of Global and Intercultural Studies
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