What do you think about Disney?

[Jeff Martinez]

The only "ulterior motive" Disney has is profit. As long as they make a product that people want to buy, they deserve every cent they get.

 

[MatticusMania]

Oh, so youre for the mindless numbing of Americans for profit?

True, the people deserve what they get, but this in no way supports prosperity to mankind, only Disney.

Who wants to go watch an advanced copy of High School Musical 17 featuring the Last Jonas Brother and Billie Rae Cyrus, son of Miley?

 

[hover]

Yeah, Disney, as far as "entertainment" is pretty watered down and benign, just a money making marketting juggernaut like there are many money making marketing juggernauts, they just hit big on a formula they rarely stray from...but i do despize their direct to DVD rapings of feature film hits, and much of their tween stuff if in a way sending a wrong (yet still relatively "wholesome") message to kids, just my opinion. It should be up to parents what is allowed in the home, not just mindlessly buying it because of the name.

...but they DID have a history of pretty brow raising fare back in the day...most notably and famously a flick with "tar babies" in it, and a pretty odd infomovie / psa for young ladies about menstruation I saw recently, wish I had a link....did I see that linked here actually?

Meh. It took Disney long enough to be able to poke fun at themselves (Enchanted) and that made me respect that they "get" that upholding their total-wholesome image is harder in today's youth climate and that change is in order. And I really think High School Musical and that ilk is really lame lowest denominator marketting....

Meh, typical, but not what I'd label "evil". Some people like to think they see between the lines, like the religious nut that was linked.

 

[Jeff Martinez]

Oh, so youre for the mindless numbing of Americans for profit?

Disney (or any company) has no obligation to maintain, or improve the cultural or intellectual position of our society. That is up to each person (or parent), to decide for themselves. I find most Disney products to be appropriate and safe entertainment for my kids. Educating them is a responsibility that falls on my shoulders, not some corporation.

It seems to me that people who thrive on a victim mentality will always try to label the successful as evil.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

Oh, so youre for the mindless numbing of Americans for profit?

I numb my mind daily thank you very much.

 

[JoeVictim]

I numb my mind daily thank you very much.

A Peter Tosh song comes to mind...hmmm, now how did those lyrics go?

 

[MatticusMania]

Disney (or any company) has no obligation to maintain, or improve the cultural or intellectual position of our society. That is up to each person (or parent), to decide for themselves. I find most Disney products to be appropriate and safe entertainment for my kids. Educating them is a responsibility that falls on my shoulders, not some corporation.

It seems to me that people who thrive on a victim mentality will always try to label the successful as evil.

Youre still not getting it.

I really dont care about disney or what they do, in factm I agree with your post 100%, Im just in a randy mood today. And yesterday. Maybe all week, who knows?

 

[mike_v_s]

Youre still not getting it.

I really dont care about disney or what they do, in factm I agree with your post 100%, Im just in a randy mood today. And yesterday. Maybe all week, who knows?

Randy hasn't posted here since they closed TPA. He was a funny guy. We miss you, steveksux...

Mike

 

[NJL]

I have fans?

I HAVE FANS!!!


I mean...thank you very much.

yeah, but your chili is even better.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I have fans?

I HAVE FANS!!!


I mean...thank you very much.

Easy there. If you're going to get all giddy on me, I'll revoke my prior statement of fandomness. I'm not even sure that's word, but I'm going book shelf it with a

 

[Jeff Martinez]

Youre still not getting it.

I really dont care about disney or what they do, in factm I agree with your post 100%, Im just in a randy mood today. And yesterday. Maybe all week, who knows?

My bad. I'm trying to pretend I'm actually working, and not on TB, so I probably missed the implied humor as I speed-read through the thread.

 

[Dan Mee]

This is why England got rid of the Catholic church and made our own one, CoE all the way

p.s.
there is no religous hatred here, it is merely a historical joke. Thoughs British members will certainly understand it aa I'm not sure to what extend the history of the English Monarchy is taught in schools in America. If it isn't, just search for Henry VIII starting the Church of England.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

My bad. I'm trying to pretend I'm actually working, and not on TB, so I probably missed the implied humor as I speed-read through the thread.

That's good, then you missed my poo post.

 

[L-A]

Walt was a genius, although Disney got caught in its own popularity. Cheap overseas labor, etc.

[EDIT: I think I kind of drifted onto political grounds, so my point was that Disney took several engaged political turns which I did not agree with]

I'm not saying Disney is evil, but it leaves me a "double-faced" impression.

 

[lunarpollen]

For the most part, I despise all things Disney. Their theme parks are among the last places on Earth I'd want to be.

Just one person's opinion, mind you; a matter of personal taste

 

[hbarcat]

Well, being that he's a representative of the Catholic church, I would argue that they've done more to corrupt the human mind than Disney, simply based upon the sheer years of their existence and all the history behind the Church. However, these stories are there for children to read for themselves. If we do a good job parenting, we should read these stories to them (in non Disney) form, and let the children decide for themselves. However, being that not very many people read these days, I would say that this is a futile notion. But to argue against this dude, I would say that if he doesn't like Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty, then he should read the original one that pre-dates Grimm. It promotes adulterous incest. Replace the sleeping princess with a daughter, the prince with her father, and the evil queen with her mother. Good times.

Still, I can also see this guys point. I went to a little assembly at my son's school and each grade level had to put on a presentation. Watching a bunch of second-graders sing songs from High School Musical was pretty disturbing. Almost every performance was related to a Disney film somehow. Kind of sad. I understand that perhaps the teacher were 'over' the idea of having to put on this stupid performance every year, but to teach kids how to sing Disney songs just kind of seemed lazy.

Disney would not be in business if it didn't do what it does well. If it's going to present old stories that have traditionally been passed down through word of mouth and storytelling better than the originals, the people are going to buy it. If it doesn't then people will reject it. The only thing you can do, is make smart choices when you're a parent and raising your own kid.

The guy quoted in the article makes quite a leap of logic, IMO, going from Disney marketing merchandise with their movies to Disney trying to replace a value system. By his logic, Fender is trying to make me believe that my life will be complete if I buy some of their clothes now available at Wal-Mart, and Gibson is subborning my value system with the Guitar Hero franchise, selling me on a rock star's lifestyle that includes the Gibson family of companies.

I don't agree with his assumptions about how much influence or what variety Disney has. They're a company, no more, no less. Either he was misquoted, or he completely ignores parental influence altogether in the formation of a scoety's values.

I don't agree with his interpretation of scripture, either. I also notice that he says consumerism, and the OP used the word capitalism...they're not the same thing at all.

Very good posts!

 

[hbarcat]

Oh, so youre for the mindless numbing of Americans for profit?

True, the people deserve what they get, but this in no way supports prosperity to mankind, only Disney.

Who wants to go watch an advanced copy of High School Musical 17 featuring the Last Jonas Brother and Billie Rae Cyrus, son of Miley?

Disney is a company with a long history and they go through periods of good product and bad. Cinderella is a truly great movie. So is Alladin. But then I'd put High School Musical alongside The Little Mermaid as insipid tripe.

Still, I expect that within the next several years they will come out with another really great film.

As far as their TV programs go, look at what you have to compare it to. I don't see dissing Hanna Montana for being mindless drivel when some of the highest rated TV shows are American Idol, Deal or No Deal and Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader.

 

[Mystic Michael]

The only "ulterior motive" Disney has is profit. As long as they make a product that people want to buy, they deserve every cent they get.

If consumer demand is the only thing that matters, one could say the very same thing about the crystal meth trade...

MM

 

[Mystic Michael]

Disney (or any company) has no obligation to maintain, or improve the cultural or intellectual position of our society. That is up to each person (or parent), to decide for themselves. I find most Disney products to be appropriate and safe entertainment for my kids. Educating them is a responsibility that falls on my shoulders, not some corporation.

It seems to me that people who thrive on a victim mentality will always try to label the successful as evil.

Ah, the old "social responsibility vs. libertarian" conundrum...

Do corporations have a moral responsibility to improve the lot of mankind in general? In addition to their shareholders, customers and employees? As members of the human family (allegedly ), I believe they do - same as anyone else...

Does that mean they should be responsible for taking care of us, educating our children, etc.? Of course not. Ultimately, we're each responsible for taking care of ourselves, and our own children. Hence the vital importance of education - to help create informed and discriminating consumers, and good critical thinkers with refined tastes, who can discern quality from crap.

In other words, everyone shares a certain portion of moral responsibility to the collective good - individuals as well as institutions (i.e. corporations, governments, etc.) - not just to themselves...

MM

 

[Kyon`]

This is why England got rid of the Catholic church and made our own one, CoE all the way

p.s.
there is no religous hatred here, it is merely a historical joke. Thoughs British members will certainly understand it aa I'm not sure to what extend the history of the English Monarchy is taught in schools in America. If it isn't, just search for Henry VIII starting the Church of England.

Henry the 8th, I am I am... Henry the 8th got a bungie in his pants