Stephen M Fjellman

While at times I got lost in the philosophical discussions of postmodernism and semiotics I found this book to be quite fascinating in its dissection of Walt Disney World. Many fond childhood memories take place in WDW, and I currently struggle with nostalgic idealization of WDW intermingled with a contempt for the capitalist system that it upholds. Fjellman does a great job of discussing this struggle, as he also feels the pull of WDW while simultaneously being repulsed by it.

It was great reading about the old rides that I used to love and have since been torn apart into crappy thrill rides, and also funny to hear about the new technology of laser discs, but I would love to read an updated perspective of the park. Fjellman seems to have a bit of contempt for EPCOT Center (my favorite of the parks at Disney). The EPCOT in this book would be completely unrecognizable to anybody who has been within the last 10 years without having gone in the early or mid 1990s. The corporate sponsorship remains, and the underlying corporate messages are still intact, but I wonder how Fjellman would react to the moving away from "educational" rides to thrill rides.

Ironically, this book makes me want to go back to WDW, and look at the park through fresh eyes.… (meer)

Most "scholarly" books and articles about Walt Disney World come off
as elitist and condescending. This is the first book that I've read that takes
an intellectual and honest stance about what's going on at Walt Disney World
from a cultural, sociological and anthropological point of view. The author is a perceptive observer, but also an unabashed admirer of Walt Disney World. The result is a whirlwind, very detailed tour through the WDW of the late 80's, offset by perceptive and highly referenced cultural musings.

The author does not shy away from the controversy, the incongruities, and the outright pastiche of the place, while at the same time, enjoying every minute of it.

Also interesting for its detailed description of several attractions that no longer exist, such as the original Communicore in EPCOT and Horizons.… (meer)

As posted to Sirsi's catalog: "Fellman 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. He argues that Disney, in pursuit of its own economic interests, acts as the muse for the allied transnational corporations that sponsor it as well as for the world of late capitalism, where the commodity form has colonized much of human life."… (meer)