OK its confession time! I’ve now been to Disneyland Paris. It wasn’t my choice – of course. But that of Erica and Euan my partners children. I’m both amazed and appalled by the place. The scale and efficiency of the operation is awesome. Tens of thousands of people shuffle around with a smile on their face passing from ride to ride and show to show. But this is just the most extreme version of the turbo consumption that defines modern life. Here people buy thrills that in truth offer no danger. They buy a dream becasue their own lives are so shallow. The sight of adults posing with people in Mickey Mouse uniforms as if they are real is just weird. At every corner is a shop that sells yet more Disney merchandise. And yet millions flock here. Why? Because it is the best there is and you have to give the Disneybosses their dues. They do turbo-consumerism better than most. Where is the harm in that?
Well, as far as I’m concerned there’s no harm in it at all as part of a balanced diet of life experiences.
I went there over ten years ago and was impressed by Space Mountain that went upside down at great speed in a dark tunnel punctuated by bright lights – a clear metaphor for the recent collapse of global capitalism.
I imagine this ride is now very much at the tame end of the spectrum and that the current popular rides involve molecular transportation into the set of popular Disney and your legs swapping places with your head.
Actually David its still about the best ride in the park. so perhaps even Disney needs a bit of updating? Perhasp it proves the point even more that life is generally so rubbish we put up with this old hat stuff and think its a dream world. It may be compensation for a free life but its not much of a second prize.
I was there myself a few weeks ago with my wife and son, and some frineds, for a second trip, having never imagined I’d go even once. I certainly agree with Neal about the level of consumerism. There is a lot of expensive tat to buy. BUT, I have a slightly different take because at the heart of the Disney project are some really positive values – cooperation, community, and ‘dreams can come true’. Also, in a lot of the Disney films, one other value comes through clearly: money doesn’t matter and it’s our relationships with each other that are the most important thing in life. I think that’s part of the magic of Eurodisney – at least, that’s what we liked when we went there!
Come on Neal! Lighten up! What is Disneyworld but a better version of Southsea funfair? According to you, it’s efficient, it puts a smile on people’s faces, it offers thrills without danger – what’s not to like?
I’ve never been there, have no desire to go. But when I was a kid, my parents used to make me visit the gardens of stately homes (or the homes themselves) and this used to bore me to distraction. Horses for courses. The secret to understanding consumerism is to understand the consumer. People want this stuff – you can’t decide for them what they want. They are shallow and don’t want to think. That is the world we live in. Big Brother is more popular than documentaries. It’s sad, but you can’t legislate agains bad taste. Unfortunately…
Yes but only if you pay Richard. And im always light Alexs but Disney represenst the extreme of the consumer society – the dream like haze the belief that money can buy dreams. I cant legislate against bad tatse but we can legislate against the market and build a better society. But only if we stop beliveing in this daft noensense.
couldnt agree more
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