Walt's Magic

In response to Wasko's piece, "Challenging Disney Myths," I thought it brought a lot of insight to Walt's life and his company. The quote: "Walt Disney's greatest creation was Walt Disney" (Schickel), resonates with the myth that Walt was able to cast about his life. Taking a closer look at this statement, Walt did not only create his own company under his name but also created a story that he had full control over. In some ways, Walt could be viewed as a control freak, whether it was on the subject of producing films or about his own life. He was very cautious when he shared about his past. Furthermore, Walt made his past closely related to the ideals of the American Dream. He is the epitome of someone who went from rags to riches through hard work and perseverance. It is honestly a great story. However, it seems all the much too perfect to be true. This is what Wasko is arguing as well.

With further historical context, we learn that Walt's rise was around the same time as the Great Depression started. When people were losing all their money in the stock market, Walt was getting ready for his major spotlight on center stage. He would soon provide the entertainment of the century during some of the toughest times in America. With this historical background, it makes Walt's story seem all the more magical. Only a handful of people succeed during those turbulent times and he was one of them.

Another point, Disney owns a lot of todays major television stations. For example, Disney owns ABC and ESPN. These media stations are absolutely not related to Disney at all, which is interesting in itself. Why would Disney purchase these companies the first place?

I also totally agree with Wasko that Disney is not just for kids. Disney has so many hidden messages and meanings that it makes the adult enjoy the movie also. I think Disney's success lies in its simplicity. The adult world is much more complicated than the world when they were a kid. It's simplicity provides an escape for adults. Furthermore, Disney gives people hope. Even adults still have dreams to find true love and live a happy ending.