Post Class 2/28

During class this week we talked about the fantasies of Disney world and such amusement destinations. I have actually never been to Disney or Vegas so I do not fully understand what it is. In the absence of this experience I can only imagine what it is like at these resorts.

The movie 'Memento' was quite a mind trip. It is a nonlinear narrative and was one of the first of its kind. It narrates everything backwards in clips. This, for me, made it very confusing on the first watch. The whole movie makes the viewer question what is real and truthful. Leonard has to trust all the notes he writes to himself and all of the tattoos. The phone also comes into question because he never knows who he is talking to because he can't remember. The whole story focuses on who you can trust and who you cannot trust. It also looks at what is real and what is not.

Pre-class, Dorfman and Mattelart 2/22

"...We children and grownups will have to get used to reading about our own society, which, to judge from the way it is painted by the writers and panegyrists of our age, is rough, bitter, cruel and hateful. It was Disney's magic to be able to stress the happy side of life, and there are always, in human society, characters who resemble those of Disney comics."(123)

This quote was in response to Mickey Mouse being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. I think the author is trying to show that no matter where you are form you know of Disney and its 'magic.' The magic to bring people together and reminisce about childhood and youth. The ability to escape the horrible tragedies or wars going on. This promotes the idea of the happy ending, where everything is peaceable. People want to believe that there is good and peace because it is comforting. They do not want to believe there will never be world peace. This is why Disney's characters are so comforting for them. They believe in the escape of the world of Disney. They can even go live in Disney's world and get away from the troubles of real life. We have one in our area that is a huge attraction, especially for families to shield their children from reality. It gives people the ability to get away, widening the gap.