Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Goff, Brendan

Keywords

Disney, Walt, American Exceptionalism, The Walt Disney Company, United States

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

By addressing the legacy of Walt Disney and examining his corporation’s role in the world today, this thesis locates The Walt Disney Company within the narrative of American exceptionalism. Using a variety of both primary and secondary sources as part of its analysis—and dedicating significant attention to the Disney parks’ spatial layout— this thesis evaluates the connection between Disney’s own rendering of exceptionalism and its position as a multinational corporation that operates in a consumption-driven society. In doing so, this thesis touches upon the development of Disney in a post-Fordist economy, focusing on the company’s use of spectacle to promote a specific vision of itself and its nation’s place within the world. This thesis suggests that in showcasing its own exceptionalist vision, The Walt Disney Company serves as a vehicle for American cultural hegemony while simultaneously modifying what it means for the United States to be exceptional.

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