Unit 4 Disney World:

Cities of Simulation as Postmodern Utopias

TEACHING LECTURESPeriods 1-2 ( 80 min )

◆ Warm-up Questions:

1. What does Disney World evoke in you?

2. What can we learn from Disney World?

Contents: ★ About the Lesson

The author gives his critical view on Disney World from two perspectives: Why does this park have such a great appeal to its visitors? And how does modern technology plays its paradoxical roles in Disney?

Structural Analysis of Text I: This expository essay may be divided into 4 parts as

follows:1. Part I (Para. 1-4) : the author explains the illusion,

idealized reality and fantasies created by Disney.2. Part II (Paras 5-7 ) : the author probes the implications of

modern technology in Disney World.3. Part III (Paras 8 – 9): the author moves on to discuss the

difference between the perfect world as desired by humanity and that of Disney World.

4. Part IV (Paras. 10-11): the author raises the question about our relationship with technology and cautioned us against the greatest negative aspects of Disney World.

★ Detailed Study of Part I (paras. 1-4) of Text I:

Text AnalysisParagraph 1The first paragraph is part of the section in

which the author explains the illusion (Paragraph 1), idealized reality (Paragraphs 2 and 3 ) and fantasies (Paragraph 4) created by Disney.

1)“ In various attractions” ---- In Disney World there are four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPOCT, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom. Each of the four includes a number of units that are further composed of a number of attractions. For example, one of the units in Magic Kingdom is called Adventureland that is made up of the following attractions: Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Swiss Family Treehouse, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. The same is true of all other units (Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Mickey’s Toontown Fair) in this and other theme parks.

2)“ On the thrill rides” ---- While riding the roller-coasters and other terrifying machines.

3)“ they defy gravity, moving at speeds and in ways that seem to violate what common sense tells them should be possible” ---- Here the author refers to the attractions in Tomorrowland. These attractions are: Astro Orbiter, Tommorrow Indy Speedway and Space Mountain, all of which demonstrate the incredibly fast speed at which we travel on the earth and to outer-space.

4)On the thrill rides, they defy gravity, moving at speeds and in ways that seem to violate what common sense tells them should be possible:

When taking the exciting rides on those machines, they act against gravity, moving at such a fast speed that is almost impossible to turn to their common sense for an explanation.

defy: act against; refuse to obey Her beauty defies description.The doctor has been accused of violating

professional ethics. Questions of this kind violate my privacy

and I am not willing to answer them.

Paragraphs 2-3

These two paragraphs elaborate on the idealized vision created by Disney World: a world of perpetual celebration and a world that is objective and material but seemingly as carefree as the imagination. This illusion caters to humanity’s deepest dream ---- “ to escape the fallen state of society and the self” or “ to transcend the mundane.”

1) “negative emotions” ( Paragraph 2 ) ---- The phrase refers to all undesirable emotions such as unhappiness, disappointment and anger.

2) “ we go on a journey through symbolic worlds that are objective and material but seemingly as carefree as the imagination.” ( Paragraph 3 ) ---- In Disney World we entertain ourselves with the vision that we are living in fantastic, carefree worlds that are in reality, objective and solid.

Paragraphs 4

Another function of Disney World is to render the possibility of re-creating our surroundings in the form of an updated version of contemporary romance stories. That is, Disney World satisfies people’s psychological needs by dismissing the “dry scientism” with modern art and technology.

1) “ the disenchantment of the world the rise of science and the declining influence of religion: ---- the disappointment of the world/ the loss of belief in the world due to the rise of science and the diminishing influence of religion.

2) “ an updated version of contemporary romance stories.” ---- a new model of contemporary love stories that are endowed with human emotions and feelings.

Questions

1) How does Disney World idealize American capitalism and political history?

Disney World idealize American capitalism and political history by creating the vision that people are participating in a 365-day-a-year holiday in a world full of celebrations, parades and fund, a world free from negative emotions.

2) Why does visitors have the dream of transcending the mundane?

Because people normally find that in the real world most opportunities are closed to them and most human motives are concealed, they wish that they could, at least symbolically, go beyond the mundane world.

Language Work

1. On the thrill rides, they defy gravity, moving at speeds and in ways that seem to violate what common sense tells them should be possible: When taking the exciting rides on those machines, they act against gravity, moving at such a fast speed that it is almost impossible to turn to their common sense for an explanation.

Her beauty defies description. The doctor has been accused of violating

professional ethics.

2. …draws visitors into a world of perpetual celebration…: Visitors are attracted into a world where everyday is a festival and celebrations are going on all the time.

They lived in perpetual fear of being discovered and arrested.

He has hard, cold eyes and his mouth is set in a perpetual sneer.

3. In Disney World, we transcend the mundane. : In Disney World, we are free from all the ordinary and boring matters we have to put up with in the real world.

The underlining message of the film is that love transcends everything else.

4. … most human motives are concealed…: Most human motives are hidden. We do not know what other people are thinking about.

I tried to conceal my surprise when she told me her age.

Is there something you are concealing from me?

5. … in the modern age we are witnessing the disenchantment of the world….: In our modern time, we see with our own eyes that people are getting more and more disappointed about what is going on in the world.

Disillusionment and disenchantment have now set in for many people.

Periods 3-4 ( 80 min ) ◆ Gist Questions:

1. What, according to the author, is the promise of modernism? And what is the postmodern promise?

The promise of modernism is the realistic hope that technology will bring affluence, power over nature and rationality, while the postmodern promise is that technology will allow us to escape the condition of society and the physical world.

2. What does the author mean by saying “progress culminates in a utopia of transcendence”?

The author means that the progress represented by Disney World reaches its highest peak and enters a utopia beyond the limits of our physical world.

◆ Contents: Detailed study of Paras 5-7 of Text I

Text AnalysisFrom Paragraph 5 to 7 the author probes the

implications of modern technology in Disney World. In Paragraph 5 she finds that “ it also shows us the way technology will give us power over, and freedom from, the world.” In other words, it can help us enjoy, by simulation, what we hope to enjoy in reality.

“ objectified fantasies” ---- those fantasies and imaginations that have been made real in the various attractions in Disney World.

In paragraph 6 the author further expounds the idea that technology is the means to help people transcend the mundane world.

“ showcase” ---- a situation or event that is designed to show the good qualities someone or some product possesses. The world is often metaphorically used to indicate a situation in which something is displayed to its best advantage.

“ in place of” ---- in stead of. “rationality” ---- The meaning of this world is

opposite to sentimentality and romance.

In paragraph 7, the author points out the paradox that is related with the two trends: the desire to escape the constraints of life through technology, and the desire to pretend we have done so in invented worlds of simulation. In this world of simulation, we succeeded in transcending the mundane world and change the decadent state of nature, society and ourselves.

“ if the great myth of ‘meta-story’ of America is the story of progress, then Disney World is a place that masquerades as the happy ending” ---- if the great story of American success is the story of progress, then Disney World seems to mark its happy ending.

“ undoes the fallen state of nature, society and ourselves” ---- changes the situation in which nature, society and ourselves have declined.

Language Work

1. …one day we will go into outer space or travel freely across the globe or evolve a perfect society…: one day we will be able to enter outer space or travel feely across the earth or develop a perfect society.

Humans evolved from apes. Bacteria are evolving resistance to

antibiotics.

2. … technology would usher in an age of affluence…: technology would bring about important changes which would lead to an age of prosperity.

She ushered us into her office and offered us coffee.

Officials quickly ushered the protesters out of the hall.

3. Disney World is a place that masquerades as the happy ending, in which progress culminates in a utopia…: Disney World plays the part of the happy ending of the great story of America.

In this business letter there are a lot o unqualified people masquerading as experts.

She masqueraded as a shepherd. Their many years of research have

finally culminated in a cure for the disease. Winning first prize was the culmination of

years of practice and hard work.

Gist Questions: 1. What is the difference between the utopia of

Disney World and other utopias in the Western civilization.?

The difference between the utopias either appear in fiction or are put into practice in small communities, while the utopia in Disney World is brought to life with simulation and offered as a vacation paradise.

2. What, according to the author, is the irony of the utopia in Disney World?

The irony of Disney World is that it helps people progress to a better world by means of regression.

Detailed study of Paras 8-11of Text I

Text AnalysisIn these paragraphs the author moves on

to discuss the difference between the perfect world as desired by humanity and that of Disney World. He further points out the irony that Disney World brings this ideal perfect world to life by “inviting us to regress to a state of happiness before the fall from childhood.”

1) “Disney World falsifies our desire for a better world” ---- Disney World misrepresents our desire for a better world.

2) “ to regress to a state of happiness before the fall from childhood” ---- to retreat to a happy and innocent period before the end of childhood which marks the beginning of sophistication and moral decline.

Here the word “fall” implies moral degeneration. According to the Bible, the “fall” was the occasion when Adam and Eve sinned and God made them leave the Garden of Eden.

Language Work

1. …put into practice in small communities…: are carried out by small groups of people.

It seemed like a good idea before we started, but in practice it was a disaster.

I can’t see how your plan is going to work in practice.

How do you intend to put these proposals into practice.

2. ….with simplified visions of life that filter out the difficult truths of the self and society.: …with simplified imagination of life from which all the difficult truths of the self and society have been removed.

The water is filtered to remove any impurities.

The technology exists to remove all of these contaminants through filtration.

3. The contradictions inherent in Disney World are deepened…: The intrinsic contradictions of Disney World are intensified.

I have an inherent distrust of lawyers.There’s nothing inherently wrong with his

ideas.

4. In Disney, we see the ultimate attempt to rely on technology…: In Disney, they are going to the extreme in trying to do everything with modern technology.

The success of this project relies on everyone making an effort.

I rely on you for good advice. I’m relying on the garage to fix the car by

tomorrow.

Periods 5-6 (80min)

1. Comprehension questions

1) How does Disney create the illusion or a “perfect world” for the visitors?

2) How does Disney idealize American society?

3) Why does the sense of transcendence in Disney World have such an appeal to people in the mundane world?

4) What does Disney do to the dry “scientism” world view of contemporary societies?

5) What is the promise of modernism offered by technology? What is the promise of “postmodernism” which technology can offer?

6) Why does the author say that Disney World is a cautionary tale?

2. Oral Activities

1) What is the essence of Disney World? Disney world is a showcase for

postmodernism and postmodern society. It uses simulation to create the illusion that we can overcome the limits of time and space, self and society. But many of the ideas it conveys are false, making it a realm of illusions in more than one sense.

2) What do you think are the most important difference between Disney World and most traditional fairy tales?

Disney World and most traditional fairy tales create illusions that we can overcome the limits of time and space, self and society. But they are different in at least the following aspects:

First, traditional fairy tales are about what happened in the past, but they represent people’s dream for a perfect world in the future, while Disney World brings this perfect

world to life by inviting us to regress to the good old days.

Second, traditional fairy tales are more personal, both because of the personal stories that they tell and because the way they are told, while Disney World is more impersonal since they are about idealized utopias created by machines.

Third, traditional fairy tales are educational in that they normally “teach” us certain traditional moral virtues, while Disney World seems to appeal to us with an idealized way of life, which is in fact highly Americanized.

3. Text II: Las Vegas: Postmodern City of Casinos and SimulationQuestions for discussion:1). Why did Las Vegas start to reinvent itself in the

image of Disney?As other parts of the nation started to compete

with Las Vegas by legalizing gambling, Las Vegas has had to go through a transformation to attract more tourists.

2) Is Las Vegas a clone of Disney?No, it isn’t. Instead, it has created a new

variation of Disney, which reveals the changes that are taking place in postmodern culture, at least within the realm of simulation and themed attraction. In fact, Las Vegas has turned itself into a city which combines adult and family oriented entertainment.

3) What distinguishes Las Vegas from Disney?

Disney is famous for a controlled and monitored park with well-organized from of transportation, while what Las Vegas offers sis a bumper-to-bumper chaos of the Las Vegas trip, lines with fantasy buildings that bear no relation to each other.

4) What characterizes the Luxor Hotel? The Luxor hotel is one of the city’s monument

to simulation. In the Luxor, we can see many of the qualities that define Disney World but with a different feature. Like Disney, it creates visual spectacles that are intended to evoke emotions such as surprise, amazement, and wonder. But like many similar attractions, it appears to suffer from an identity crisis: it can’t seem to keep its theme together, i.e., it has an odd mixture of themes. Indeed, what the Luxor offers sis simulated attractions. It my include references to an ancient civilization or history but the view of the past it offers certainly isn’t genuine.

5) What is the significance of this essay?The significance of this essay lies in the

fact that, with the prevailing of simulation culture, we should watch out for rising simulation confusion, i.e. the confusion of a semi-realistic imitation for the object it imitates.