Mickey Mouse Monopoly: Disney, Childhood & Corporate Power

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The Disney Company's massive success in the 20th century is based on creating an image of innocence, magic and fun. Its animated films in particular are almost universally lauded as wholesome family entertainment, enjoying massive popularity among children and endorsement from parents and teachers.

Mickey Mouse Monopoly takes a close and critical look at the world these films create and the stories they tell about race, gender and class and reaches disturbing conclusions about the values propagated under the guise of innocence and fun. This daring new video insightfully analyzes Disney's cultural pedagogy, examines its corporate power, and explores its vast influence on our global culture. Including interviews with cultural critics, media scholars, child psychologists, kindergarten teachers, multicultural educators, college students and children, Mickey Mouse Monopoly will provoke audiences to confront comfortable assumptions about an American institution that is virtually synonymous with childhood pleasure.

Interviewees include Henry Giroux, Diane Levin, Gail Dines, Elizabeth Hadley, Carolyn Newberger, Alvin Poussaint, and Justin Lewis.

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: October 4, 2006 at 9:29 am
Author: ChallengingMedia

Length: 00:05:45
Rating: 3.76
Views: 416520

Tags: MEF Media Education Literacy Critical Mass Industry Educational Sut Jhally Disney Pedagogy Culture Social

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Video Comments:
micamous3 (December 4, 2008 at 11:06 am)
SERIOUSLY!!
I so agree with you.
It's almost like a person or two is pissed cuz they didn't find their prince
micamous3 (December 4, 2008 at 11:05 am)
THANK YOU!!
I think ppl try to read into things way too hard
why not attack these really dangerous organizations?
instead here they are attacking a company that makes
KIDS MOVIES?!

p.s disney land is awesome
HoloMatter (December 3, 2008 at 9:08 am)
Disne Corporation is one of the most evil corporations on earth, alonf with their brother corporation Mcdonalds. notice how Disney brainwash children into a false sense of security with their insipid music and shiney, 2 dimensional characters. then they make toys of their cypher-like ''friends'' and sell them to the children at high prices. you think that they would be happy at turning fresh minds into dull cattle,but no.they work with mcdonalds to market their toys with food,making more money.
postalflag (December 2, 2008 at 9:45 am)
Well if you look at the subliminal messages or basically the bad stuff in Disney animations because well, how bored can you be? then okay, that's that. But do kids really mind?
Yeah, kids might try to reenact violence or things in the animations that might cause physical damage to the kids. But besides that,well,please,everything has a p.o.v. in it,a good and a bad. I watch Disney movies when I was small and it certainly didn't do me any harm. You'd always find your favorite Disney moment.
truthprowler (November 29, 2008 at 11:06 am)
It's not that you don't notice all the subliminal meanings in the movies as a child, but it's still in your sub conscience. The gender inequalities are something everyone grows up with. Honestly, you need to look past the sugar-coated bullshit Disney presents you. It's an unethical company that teaches kids what to think. Oh...and to answer that one guy's question in the documentary: Yes,yes you are living in a police state.
LaPetiteMorte (November 28, 2008 at 11:41 am)
There are millions of these "Disney is evil"-infomercials out here, and they ALL overlook the good things. I grew up just fine, and if there ever was a child who liked their Disney-movies, it was me. I really, honestly don't think Disney hurts the minds of any children. If anything, it hurts adults, who spend hours on end trying to analyze something that simply was never there.
nicolettesregret (November 19, 2008 at 1:35 am)
This is so ridiculous.
How many children watch Beauty and the Beast and look for the moral of the story? For that matter, how many look for a moral in ANY of the movies?
Most don't even read into the story that much and grow up to be just fine. They don't think about how Belle handled abuse.
As for the racial part, there was indeed an Asian...Mulan? My favorite movie of all time.They are making a black princess movie right now, so stop crying.
mrhankeypoo222 (November 13, 2008 at 2:03 pm)
to many people start drama for the wrong reasons. the only reasons why you guys see the bad in disney is because your looking for it. you need to look for the good in the movies like the children are.
mrhankeypoo222 (November 13, 2008 at 2:02 pm)
completely true. good point
mrhankeypoo222 (November 13, 2008 at 2:01 pm)
you people are only looking at the bad parts of the films. you need to look at the end of the movies where he characters are turning into good people. they try to teach children what way not to act (which is usually the beginning or in the middle of the movie) and how to be kind and not rude(where the characters change in the end and become better people). i do not understand why people cant see that. everyone seems like all they want to do is start something that shouldn't be started.