My Reflection on the Disney Magic Bands

Created in 2013, Disney Magic Bands are just another way to enhance your Disney experience.  Magic Bands are wristbands that work as a park ticket, room key, Fastpass, reservation, credit card, access to attractions, and many more amenities.  This seemingly innovative, fun, interactive, and very efficient product can’t possibly be bad – right?

Well, as Bob Croslin describes the result and use of the band in his article, “Disney’s $1 Billion Bet on a Magical Wristband” (https://www.wired.com/2015/03/disney-magicband/), “The hostess, on her modified iPhone, received a signal when the family was just a few paces away. Tanner family inbound! The kitchen also queued up: Two French onion soups, two roast beef sandwiches!”  Now, the merely exciting wristband seems a lot scarier than first imagined.  The technology within the band, needed to grant you access to attractions, make reservations, etc., is also technology that is tracking you.  Now, Disney has access to your location and has the capabilities to send characters, such as the classic Mickey Mouse or princess Sleeping Beauty.  This device sounds even creepier…

When used for the wrong reasons, the Disney Magic Band could take advantage of the consumers.  Since the device allows the company to know information like location and preferences for certain attractions, food, and purchases based on previous actions, consumers naturally become vulnerable to Disney’s power.  In a less threatening way, Disney could use this device as a means of making more money.  Analysts could compile data on individual Magic Band wearer and use it to their advantage.  If they see that an individual tends to purchase popcorn a lot, they could have an individual walk by the person frequently, in hopes that the person will again, make the popcorn purchase.

Wide selection of Magic Bands

More recently, according to http://www.disneylists.com/2016/08/news-disney-world-makes-move-replace-magic-bands/, Disney is making a move to replace the wristbands that many people love.  However, if you are concerned about Disney taking away your band or no longer being able to purchase one, there is nothing to fear.  Disney isn’t completely throwing away the idea, but is looking to change the design and revise it to make it more efficient.  Instead of selling individual bands, the push is to manufactures individual puck-shaped devices that would save the company the troubles and costs of including technology components for each individual band.  This new design would allow users to switch the pucks onto each band and pass device from person to person, which would save the company a lot of time and money.

A company.  The thing we always forget is that Disney is inherently a company.  Their main goal, among entertaining millions of people, is to make money, to expand their business, and to give people what they want so that they will become loyal Disney consumers or continue being loyal consumers.  Can we really fault Disney then, for creating products that they know consumers will love and purchase?  The magic band is a great idea that is contingent on the current societal trend.  As Croslin describes it, “No matter how often we say we’re creeped out by technology, we tend to acclimate quickly if it delivers what we want before we want it.”  Society is becoming less and less impatient, yearning to become immediately satisfied instead of having to wait, and is largely influenced by technology.  In fact, I would consider it a surprise that it took Disney until 2013 to come up with this idea.

Access to Multiple Disney Attractions

Honestly, if I was an avid Disney World visitor or had young children, I would probably invest in this magical wristband.  The band would save so much time and energy spent on the little things, and allow you to enjoy your full “Disney Experience” better.  Imagine not having to carry around money with you, not having to wait to get seated in a restaurant, or even risk losing your room key. There are so many benefits to this device that it is actually hard not to purchase, if you plan to visit the park often.  I’ve been on vacations with small children, and I could definitely tell you that these wristbands would’ve be so useful.  Therefore, I’d be cautious of these bands and be aware of what personal information Disney could attain from it, but most likely make the purchase.

Many perks of the magical bands are shown here: https://www.travelingmom.com/2016/01/14/12-questions-answered-disneys-magicbands/

Struggling to decide your viewpoint on these Magic Band, or determining whether or not to make the purchase, view this sit to obtain more information: http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201311/3756/

"Can We Tell How Old You Are From Your Taste In Disney Movies?"

Buzzed never fails to amaze me.  I took this quiz thinking that there's no chance that it would be able to guess my age based on the Disney-related answers I chose.  Surprisingly it was only one year off!!

Whats your "Disney" age?

Find out here:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/bibibarud/we-can-guess-your-age-from-your-taste-in-disney-mo?utm_term=.bqYAx2PNMV#.rb6yN4n5g1

My Response to Putnam

In Amanda Putnam's article, "Mean Ladies: Transgendered Villains in Disney Films," she immediately grabbed my interest with the anecdote and direct quote from her daughter.  Since the audience of Disney films is directed towards children, I found it refreshing and more credible to include her own daughter.  In most articles we read, they contain adults commenting on all the subliminal messages and evils Disney portrays, without including how these messages influence children, if they even influence them at all.

Before this course and before reading this article, I did not even notice the transgender characteristics depicted in many Disney villains.  I overlooked these problematic associations of gender deviance with villainy.  However, Putnam's article has enlightened me.  Now I am able to see how obvious it is that evil characters like Ursula, in The Little Mermaid, largely resemble a drag queen, with her excessive makeup, avant garde attire, deep voice, and overall "theatricality."  Also, having read this article before watching Aladdin, I was on the look out for his "very slender lower arms and wrists," especially his long, skinny fingers that resemble that of a woman.  It's also very clear to me now that all the villains, both male and female, that I have seen in the Disney movies have dark, purple eyelids, which has the appearance of make-up.  Putnam then brings up the point that these transgendered villains usually antagonize “the happily-ever-after of the heroes and heroines,” who represent the heterosexual relationships.  This idea does imply that the characters that deviate from the idealized heterosexual characteristics are evil and are disruptive to society.  However, the question we must ask is whether Disney intentionally did that or just followed the “normal” standards present in our society.

Although I agree with many of Putnam’s points, I disagree with her statement that “Disney princesses are most frequently shown wearing one main outfit, which was created to reinforce their heterosexuality.”  I find this idea to be confusing and contradicting to her previous points.  Villains usually have one main outfit as well, but as Putnam pointed out, these villains deviate from, rather than reinforce ideas of heterosexuality.  Instead, the one main outfit is chosen for recognition of the character, rather than suggestions of gender or sexual preference. 

I love Putnam's last paragraph because she not only mentions her main ideas in the conclusion, but also applies these ideas to the real world.  The anecdote she includes about her daughter's perception of gender: "So, when my daughter asks me at the grocery store if the cashier is a boy or a girl, because he has a ponytail, I have to realize that she's responding to the abundance of traditional gendered stereotypes in our culture," shows us rather than just tells us the influence of how characters are depicted in films.  Also stated in this paragraph, is one of my favorite lines of the whole article because she succeeds in acknowledging both sides of the argument.   Putnam says, "Thus, while the Disney villains are mean, cruel, and petty, often out to rule the world in despicable ways, it's not because they are girly men or tomboys. "  I find it much easier to agree with Putnam's ideas because of the fact that she qualifies her position on transgendered villains.  Instead of ignoring the opposing position, she admits that Disney is not completely at fault, in that the villains are deemed evil because of they are mean people who carry out ruthless actions, not just because of their gender-associated features and gestures.

Pocahontas

I have no recollection of watching Pocahontas as a child, but I do remember singing the song "Colors of the Wind."  So, maybe I did watch it?  Regardless, I'm excited to watch it today, while live blogging, of course!

Even in the very beginning scene of Pocahontas, it's very clear who the dreamy male character is that Pocahontas is going to fall in love with.  John Smith seems like the stereotypical "Prince Charming"-type character, especially in comparison with his fellow crew mates.  He has the suave, flowy blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and perfect muscular build while the other English males are mostly unattractive.

Wait...John Smith is from London - um, where's his accent?  How come none of the other crew mates have accents?  It's interesting then that the Chief and Elder in Pocahontas's village have a slight accent.  Is this because they are seen as "more foreign" than John and his men?

It's very ironic how Governor Ratcliffe specifically states how freedom, prosperity, and the adventure of their lives awaits them in the New World, considering how European settlers in America were known for stripping the Native Americans of their land and freedoms.  Pocahontas seeks adventure, not quick to choose the steady path and marry the serious man who would provide her with the safest life.  Instead, she falls in love with the white settler, whose expedition is the cause of her newfound danger.

Again Disney mentions how Pocahontas has the spirit of the mother, which is similar to that of the wind, but the mother is not currently present in her life.  It is implied that she passed away and that Pocahontas does remember her because she says that she misses her, but how come Disney never chooses to depict a strong, close mother-daughter relationship?  Instead the parental bond is shared between the daughter and the father.

Wow – what we have read in various articles about the villains depicting transgender individuals is clearly seen in this film.  Governor Ratcliffe has stereotypical feminine qualities: the purple eyelids, colorful attire, large jewels - and how could we not notice the pigtails with red bows.  Also, I've noticed that every Disney villain (at least in the movies we've watched so far) has an awful, annoying animal sidekick.

For a charming guy, John Smith makes racist and derogatory comments.  He says that his men will "use this land properly" and tells Pocahontas that she thinks that her houses are fine because she doesn't know any better.  To make it even better, he says "we can teach you, we can improve the lives of savages all over the world."  John’s remarks are a reflection of ignorance and the idea that white people are civilized, and individuals with different cultures are considered to be lesser people.  However, Pocahontas put him in his place with the song “Colors of the Wind” (my favorite song and lyrics shown below) :

“You think the only people who are people

Are the people who look and think like you

But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger

You'll learn things you never knew; you never knew”

Good for you Pocahontas! I love how she stands up for herself and her people.  She doesn't hesitate to tell John he's wrong.  And to top it all off, she doesn't even kiss him when she has the chance to.  Unlike most of the other Disney princesses who automatically fall head-over-heels in love with a man, Pocahontas has more respectable characteristics.  Although she does foolishly go off into the woods to meet John multiple times, she doesn’t let her love for him completely blind her actions.  Honestly, I was even surprised at the end of the movie when she decided to stay in her village with her family instead of leaving with her true love (the complete opposite of Ariel)

If Disney Princesses Were Real

Wow, this is so true and so funny - I recommend watching!

Aladdin

With the enticing salesman in the first scene of Aladdin, it's hard not to become immediately entranced in the movie.  Through the environment, characters, and events depicted in the film, we, the audience, definitely get a feel for the magical life in the Middle East during Aladdin's time.  Well, "magical" is not the only word an individual would use to describe this "faraway place" after watching Aladdin.  The lyrics in the song "Arabian Nights" say it all:

"Where they cut off your ear

If they don't like your face

It's barbaric, but hey, it's home"

I think very highly of the Middle East now...

Seriously though Disney, what great features to display!  Based on subtle messages in songs and attributes of characters, it's easy to begin to associate savagery with this ancient city.  It's interesting how the song implies that the Arab people were miserable, tolerant of their home but discontented.  Also, a majority of the characters were angry, tough, and definitely barbaric.  Some children are starving and others resort to stealing food from the market to get by.  But, is this depiction of life in ancient Middle East the truth?  Maybe it was this hostile there?  I guess it is up to us whether we seek out and learn the true facts or just take Disney's word for granted.

Besides the way Disney portrays the environment in Aladdin, the way characters are portrayed do suggest underlying racism.  It's interesting how Aladdin and Jasmine are the lightest skinned characters in the movie and do not have any accents, especially compared to Jafar, the villain.  Jafar is significantly darker and has a less Americanized voice.  Was this intentional?  We may never know, but it definitely implies an association of foreigners (non-Americanized characters) with villainy.

Despite some of these negative connotations seen in the film, there are many positive features as well.  I like how this Disney princess movie is unlike most of the others, in the sense that the princess didn’t fall madly in love with the prince at first glance.  Instead it was Aladdin, “the street rat” who notices Jasmine first and can’t take his eyes off of her.  I also find it very interesting that in all the movies I have watched so far, there’s always a very strong relationship between father and daughter, and most times, the mother is nonexistent or not even mentioned. Usually mothers are known to be the more nurturing parental figures – but these maternal figures never seem to be present.  Why is this? 

Even though Aladdin does commit crimes by stealing, we never associate him with villainy because we know that he is a “diamond in the rough.”  It’s very interesting that someone could steal as often as he does and still be the “hero” of the movie.  However, we know that he does have a heart and steals because he essentially has to.  Although he works hard to steal, we see that he is morally good when he gives up his food to feed the hungry children also scrounging for food.  Even in the scene where Aladdin and Abu go into the cave for the first time, Abu (the monkey) is the infidel who is transfixed by the riches and touches the giant ruby.  Therefore, Aladdin is not seen as the bad guy and does demonstrate morals, which is why we associate him with goodness over evil.

I think that above all, Aladdin teaches a clear message that it is best to just be yourself.  Authenticity is key, and there’s no point in lying to make yourself appear better, because in the end, the truth always comes out.  Also, no matter where you live, or what your social/economic status is, there’s always hardship and because of this, you can’t always make assumptions on how people feel.  Whether you live in a palace where there are no freedoms or on the streets scrounging for food every day, you can still feel trapped.  (The fact that Aladdin has a Marketplace too, makes me feel a little trapped – there’s no escaping the Marketplace!)

P.S. I love how the genie is wearing Goofy’s hat in the last scene of the movie.  Well done, that was very clever Disney!