Vinyl Leaves: Walt Disney World And America (Institutional Structures of Feeling)

Vinyl Leaves: Walt Disney World And America (Institutional Structures of Feeling)
In Vinyl Leaves Professor Fjellman analyzes each ride and theater show of Walt Disney World and discusses the history, political economy, technical infrastructure, and urban planning of the area as well as its relationship with Metropolitan Orlando and the state of Florida. With brilliant technological legerdemain, Disney puts visitors into cinematically structured stories in which pieces of American and world culture become ideological tokens in arguments in favor of commodification and techno-corporate control. Culture is construed as spirit, colonialism and entrepreneurial violence as exotic zaniness, and the Other as child.
Customer Review: I think someone needs a hug.
This book is complete rubbish. It is a scathing indictment of our university system and an argument against tenor. If my son or daughter came home spewing this tripe I would pull them immediately. I surmise that maybe his [author] darkest day was in 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell. In fact, the only praise I remember in the book was for the Chinese over some clever anti-Western words they used in their showcase film. I think he pines for "agrarian reformers" like Che (wink...wink). The author is adamantly opposed to optimism (of any kind) and his main criticism of Disney comes from their inability to show history at its worst moments. I think he would be unsatisfied with a dark ride reliving the grimmest moments of US history. My favorite trick of his is when he uses quotations around words like "free market". I think this is code to demonstrate to his smug friends his disdain for free enterprise and industry. He almost writes/types the words "nuclear family" angrily! It is sad. He is sad. Finally, you should never trust someone who writes about pop culture who places an AT-AT on Endor.
Customer Review: Nostalgic Descriptions of Early WDW, but lightweight 'scholarship'
Dr Fjellman probably spends at least 3/4 of his space describing attractions and environs at Walt Disney World, and less than 10% of his space offering any real scholarly analysis of the sociological impacts of WDW. It's hardly worth the price for the few pages of critique he offers, but if one is looking for a quasi-professorial description of WDW as it was 15 years ago - and especially of the first incarnation of EPCOT Center, this might be entertaining... or you could just read one of the early editions of "Steve Birnbaum Brings You the Best of Walt Disney World" - one of Fjellman's primary sources. Where I went to college, travel guides were hardly considered valid reference material! For a better study of Walt Disney's influence on American culture, spend your time and money on "The Magic Kingdom: Walt Disney and the American Way of Life" by Steven Watts; "Married to the Mouse" by Richard Folgesong about the relationship of Walt Disney and Company with Orlando, FL, is also an interesting read.