Walt Disney: A Sentimental Modernist

During the early twentieth century, people across the globe witnessed the birth of an extravagant, American corporation: Disney.  In his lecture, David T. Doris conveyed that Disney is a monument of American culture and of global importance.  Doris explained that Walt Elias Disney was a sentimental modernist, an innovator and a “man of the people”.  His creation of the Disney Corporation is a fantasy transformed in to reality.  Its evolution is founded upon several advertising tactics and clever marketing techniques.

Walt Disney immersed people with entertainment through various pools of media, including movies, merchandise, television episodes, radio shows and amusement parks.  He was a sentimental modernist because he used the most advanced tools and techniques with every chance he got.  Primarily, Disney produced short, animated movies with Mickey and Minnie Mouse as protagonists.  Importantly, Mickey Mouse was portrayed as an emblem of a working-class hero.  However, children saw the famous mouse as an entertaining epitome. Disney’s movies continue to capture the eyes of adolescents around the world.

Walt accentuated numerous marketing techniques in order to promote his corporation.  For several weeks before Disneyland’s opening, he broadcasted a television show once week where he explained the wonders of the new park.  The show turned out to be a great success because one million people visited the park within the first six months of its opening.  Also, Disney merchandise is available around every corner.  For example, the first Mickey Mouse watches were sold to hundreds of people at the World’s Fair in 1933.

Today, Disney seems to be taking over the world.  Did you know that abc, Miramax, Pixar, ESPN and Touchstone Films are owned by Disney?  I was astonished when I discovered this.  In addition, the Disney television and radio channels are popular sources of entertainment for adolescents.  Disney animated movies are still alive and thriving.  Also, Disney’s cruise-lines offer fantastic get-a-ways for families.  Too bad Walt isn’t around anymore because in today’s day and age, he’d be “all up on” the Internet, being that hes a sentimental modernist and all.

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