2nd Half Notes - Disney PDF

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These are the notes for all post-midterm lectures for Walt Disney and American Culture taught by Prof. Steven Watts. The key terms that we were given are highlighted....

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Disney and Cold War Culture I: Protecting the American Way of Life October 17, 2017 I.

II.

Intro a. At this point studio is pulling out of the tailspin it was in during the ’40s b. This was a surprise to many people, maybe even Disney himself c. Disney studio emerges with more power on several fronts i. Animated features 1. Starting with Cinderella (1950) 2. A couple years later Peter Pan 3. Then Lady and the Tramp 4. Then Sleeping Beauty d. He also gets into live action films i. One that sets the stage is Treasure Island ii. Would then make Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1954) iii. Also Old Yeller iv. About 24 live-action films they put out from about 1950-1960 e. Disney becomes a pioneer in the new entertainment medium: television i. Does some Christmas specials for networks as a kind of test ii. So, Disney develops a weekly show for ABC called Disneyland (ABC, 1954) iii. Later in the decade: The Mickey Mouse Club iv. Then switches to NBC and begins to produce Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color – one of the first color TV series f. Disney also branches out into a new kind of popular film: the true-life adventures i. Documentary films – first appears in 1948 and then a bunch throughout the 1950s 1. They were nature documentaries about animal life 2. Often shown along with feature films 3. Won 8 Academy Awards for these g. Part of this has to do with Disney studio getting back to its roots h. Some of this has to do with new technology i. Some of it connected with big feature of America life in the 1950s: the Cold War j. Offered his fellow citizens a creative way to deal with the problems and bad atmosphere i. Ordinary Americans respond to this in a positive way k. In the long run, they make Walt Disney a symbol of the American way of life that is being defended in the struggle The Struggle Against Communism a. Begins at the end of World War II b. Two most powerful countries at end of the war: US and Soviet Union c. In war they were on the same side, but there is a widening split between the ideologies d. Yalta Conference i. Takes place among the allies after the war to determine what a post-

war world looks like ii. Agreement on free elections in Europe – in countries freed from the Nazis iii. Agreement on sphere of influence for the Soviets in eastern Europe 1. Joseph Stalin was afraid of European invasion into their country 2. So this sphere of influence was kind of buffer zone for Soviets 3. The Soviets could basically become friends with governments of surrounding countries, but what the Soviets end up doing is keep the Red Arm in eastern Europe and created puppet governments instead of friendly governments a. Doesn’t sit well with US and allies b. Split between Russia and US e. Churchill makes Iron Curtain speech in Fulton, MO i. Proclaims that an Iron Curtain has descended splitting eastern and western Europe ii. Created by communists iii. Created a crisis iv. There is nothing the Soviet Union admires as much as strength… f. Development of nuclear weapons also occurring at this time i. US had them with Manhattan Project ii. Atom bombs used to end war in Japan iii. 1954: Soviets detonated their nuclear weapons g. US announces first anti-Communist policy: “Containment” i. Wherever Communism appears around the globe, the US would be there to stop it/contain it h. First big example of tensions is the Korean War i. Conflict that is a surrogate war between the United States and the Soviet Union – smaller allies of each side going to war and the big supporters supply and support them ii. Korea split into two – armed conflict ensues iii. Ended in basically stalemate i. Domestic consequences of the Cold War i. Domestic paranoia about Communist influence/infiltration in American society, government, institutions ii. “McCarthyism” 1. Manifestation of this paranoia 2. McCarthy was a senator who became convinced that Communists had infiltrated the US government 3. Held hearings 4. Claims there were x number of Communists in the state department 5. Went too far when he accused the United States Army of being full of reds and pinkos a. Army had enough b. McCarthy finally went down j. Important because the Cold War dominates American life in this period

III.

i. Notion of death struggle with the ideological foe ii. Influences everything it touched Libertarian Populism a. What you see in Disney is creations that both overtly and covertly respond to the Cold War atmosphere b. Forging a defense of American values and American way of life c. Disney tries to explain in his films the American people/character and the nature of American history (how it had produced the American character) d. He defines what it meant to be an American in this period of struggle e. Disney’s ideological centerpiece was libertarian populism i. Disney takes that populism ideas from the 1930s and reworks it into a slightly different version: a lot more defensive and a little bit darker ii. The American people tend to be homogenized, “wasp tradition”: white Anglo-Saxons 1. Particularly coming out of rural America 2. Endorse Protestant traditions 3. Freedom-loving people iii. In Disney’s representation American history is a story of progress toward democracy and freedom particularly by these wash, religious folk 1. Resisted excessive government authority and tyranny iv. Some examples of how this plays out: 1. So Dear to My Heart (1948) a. Basically a film about Walt’s boyhood in Marceline b. One of the first live actions films the studio made c. Little story about Midwestern rural life d. Boy from farming village in Midwest who has this little black sheep whose always getting into trouble as he trains him for the fair e. Evokes the virtue of ordinary people – this tradition of Midwestern small town life 2. Johnny Tremain (1957) a. Based on award-winning children’s book b. About young boy in Boston leading up to American Revolution c. Story is birth of American freedom 3. The Swamp Fox (1958) a. Television series: 8 hour-long episodes b. Focused on Francis Marion – famous guerilla fighter during American Revolution i. Appears as popular, populist hero ii. Little guy not affiliated with army who goes his own way to fight the British c. Another story of birth of American freedom 4. Zorro (1957-1961) a. 78 half-hour episodes and four hour-long specials

f.

b. History/morality tale set in Spanish California c. Dashing historical hero i. In regular life, shy, bookish guy ii. But very angry about oppressive Spanish government in California iii. Superman scenario where this man becomes hero at night and goes after the government iv. Loved by the people v. His calling card is to make a “Z” through clothing, drapes, or something vi. Kind of cross between Robin Hood and Superman d. Fits right into the Disney idea – the little guy Walt Disney also emerges as a Cold Warrior – determined defender of American values and traditions i. Spokesman for American values ii. In 1944, Disney made first big move in this direction 1. A founder and first vice-president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals a. Ridding Hollywood of Communist ideas b. Cooperate with American government in searching for Communist influence in American life c. Screen Guide for Americans (1948) i. Manifesto of the organization ii. Manifesto urging Americans to go to films that upheld American values and to stay away from films that smeared American values iii. In 1947, Walt Disney testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee 1. HUAAC – hold hearings, brought people in to testify 2. Disney testifies about his observations in Hollywood 3. Some of this had to do with the labor strike that he was still bitter about – still convinced that Communist were behind that incident at his studio a. Communist groups smeared his films and studio iv. In the 1950s, Disney develops a cordial relationship with J. Edgar Hoover 1. Disney believed that Hoover and FBI were playing an important role in rooting out Communist subversives 2. Hoover made Disney an SAC contact in Hollywood a. Honorary designation given to big shots 3. Guy writes a book about this later and claims that Disney was a spy for the FBI a. That is absurd b. By early 1950s, Disney had been on the cover of Time magazine twice, had a television show that everyone watched – essentially everyone knew him – there’s no way he could be a secret agent

IV.

The Davy Crockett Craze a. Illustrates what we have talked about so far today b. In May 1955, Time Magazine’s lead story was on Disney’s Davy Crockett and what a big deal it had become in America i. Was about the movie, TV show, etc. ii. Also said that Crockett represented a newfound confidence in Cold War America iii. Picture of Davy Crockett with caption that says “Let Moscow do its worst” and a picture of Eisenhower and company c. Fess Parker – played Davy Crockett i. Went on promotional tour that takes him to Washington D.C. and invited to a luncheon on Capitol Hill ii. Speaker of the House made a speech and people start lining up in front of Fess Parker to get an autograph iii. Begins to whisper and tell them to come back later iv. After speakers finished, they rushed back over v. Illustration of just how popular this was d. Began as somewhat of an accident i. Originally put together as a three-part program for Disneyland ii. Popular response was overwhelming iii. So they extended it – Davy Crockett had been killed at the end of the third episode, but they just sort of ignored it iv. Also made some movies with television footage and more 1. Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955) a. Most popular of these films v. Made a fortune selling Davy Crockett merchandise 1. Signature item was the coonskin cap 2. Raccoon pelts shot up in price 150% 3. Drain the supplies, so they begin using other kinds of fur to make these hats vi. At the last moment of production, realize they still need a song 1. Write “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” 2. The song becomes so popular: #1 hit when released on record 3. Recorded by all kinds of people a. Davy Crockett mambo: South American version e. Fess Parker i. Becomes one of the biggest stars in the country thanks to Davy Crockett ii. Mobbed when he would go out on promotional tours iii. “Elvis Presley” of the Disney Studio f. Crockett symbolized everything that Disney was trying to do in this decade on the ideological front i. Populist hero from backwoods of Kentucky who emerges to defend American people ii. Defender of American values 1. “Be sure you’re right, and then go ahead” – saying that came up in it a lot

Disney and the Cold War I: Films October 19, 2017 I.

Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier a. Allegory for Cold War struggle, the American way of life b. Crockett is a military figure but not a member of the regular army i. Volunteer hero – populism idea c. Disney’s portrait of Native Americans i. Disney has reputation of being extremely conservative – tends to be a bit overblown ii. Disney’s picture of them is this film is very sympathetic, progressive d. Davy Crockett’s attitude about the government is revealing e. Stereotypes, etc. might be jarring for modern times

Disney and Cold War Culture II: Nourishing the American Way of Life October 24, 2017 I.

Intro a. 1959 – Kitchen Debates i. Took place in Moscow when Richard Nixon (vice-president) was being shepherded around by Khrushchev (premier) ii. Were at exhibit that was being put on about American life iii. The two got into a debate and then a heated argument about capitalism and communism iv. Went into a recreated suburban house v. Khrushchev said all that abundance meant nothing and American life was about to be overtaken by the Soviets vi. Nixon argued that all of this stuff demonstrated the good of American life – people would respond to this and support US vii. Reporters took all this down and it was big news b. Article that was ghostwritten for Lillian Disney in McCall’s Magazine – published in Feb. 1953 i. Titled “I Live with a Genius” ii. About how Disney was a devoted family man 1. Their home in Hollywood 2. His devotion to her and daughters 3. His family values iii. Point was these wholesome family values were also reflected in his films iv. Right next to this piece was an article called “Joseph Stalin and his Three Wives: An Expose” 1. Exposed the Soviet dictator’s life c. Important to think about the Cold War in terms of American history was tightly linked to the domestic scene in the United States i. Americans saw themselves in the Cold War as defending the American way of life against Communism

II.

ii. What the American way of life meant for them was a certain vision of the family, the wellbeing of the family, that was rooted in suburban life – suburban prosperity and abundance The Suburban Family Ideal a. People were coming out of the Great Depression and World War II i. These incidents were very trying for Americans b. Americans re-embracing the consumer ideal with a vengeance i. Intense attraction to consumer goods c. Trends i. The Suburban Ideal 1. Begins to happen after the end of the war 2. Flight from big cities 3. Suburban real estate developers begin to build tons of singlefamily homes with yards, garages, etc. 4. Supported by GI Bill (1944) a. Anticipated the end of the war b. Made provisions to try to ease military people back into domestic life i. With healthcare – veterans hospital, etc. ii. With mortgages for buying houses – made very low interest loans available that were backed by the government 1. Provided large subsidy for building industry 5. Also by the Interstate Highway Act (1956) a. Provided large amount of federal funds for building of multiline highway system across the United States b. Cars begin to be designed to drive on these highways c. Gives a big boost to the trucking industry d. Allowed a kind of situation where people could more easily live in the suburbs and then go out into the city and work during the day ii. The Family Ideal 1. Idealization of middle-class family as being bulwark of the American experience 2. Mom and Dad and a few kids living in the suburbs 3. Baby Boom – provides architecture for this a. From about 1945-1959 b. Kind of explosion of children into the American population c. Big families were the ideal 4. Man of the family as the breadwinner in an increasingly whitecollar form – businessman/bureaucrat/doctor/lawyer/etc. 5. Woman as homemaker – mom, domestic manager, faithful wife d. Abundance is everywhere in America and captures the flavor of what Americans are seeking in this period

III.

i. Explosion of material goods e. Economy swinging in direction of domestic goods f. Growth in employment – particularly white-collar jobs g. In working class – see union contracts that have cost of living raises built into them automatically h. EX. Automobile industry – explodes in this decade – cutting edge sector in American economic growth in Detroit – big three are Ford, General Motors, Chrysler i. Get into the habit of new car models every year i. Book that captures this: David Potter, People of Plenty (1954) i. Economic abundance and the American character (subtitle) ii. Argued that material abundance was impressive and unprecedented in the history of the world iii. More people had access to material prosperity than any other time or place iv. Opened up unprecedented opportunity Disney and Domestic Security a. Domestic security i. Major phrase at the time ii. Two meanings 1. Military ideological meaning: notion that America had to be kept secure from the inroads of Communism in society 2. Security of the American family – need to defend the American family as bulwark of nation’s values in Cold War struggle a. This one is just as important as the other – Disney is one of the most influential figures on this front in terms of defining the American family and defense of it b. Disney doctrine in post-war world i. Notion that the American nuclear family devoted to marriage, parenthood, religion and consumer abundance is really the centerpiece of the American way of life ii. Doctrine holds that it needs to be defended c. Two big stars had been Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck i. Neither had family attachment ii. Strange hints of cohabitation – Minnie and Daisy hanging around but they weren’t really married iii. The whole family thing was unclear iv. By 1950s, no ambivalence whatsoever – embrace of this family idea d. Short Films i. Nearly all of them focus on domestic life/family life ii. A majority of them are also focused on suburban family life iii. Donald Duck 1. By 1950s biggest active star 2. Donald Duck short films in 1950s have suburban setting where he works as a parental figure 3. He appears with nephews in household setting

4. Spare the Rod (1954) a. About child psychology and how to get kids to behave themselves 5. The New Neighbor (1953) a. Set in the suburbs b. Dealing with neighborly relations iv. Goofy is another example in short films 1. In 1950s, Goofy gets married and becomes suburban family 2. Fathers Are People (1951) a. Goofy trying to be good father to his puppies 3. Father’s Weekend (1954) a. Tale about dad trying to have relaxing Sunday as his family drives him crazy e. Feature Films i. See the same thing ii. See challenges to the family, family struggling but is resolved in way that reinforces the family iii. Lady and the Tramp (1955) 1. Lady’s family life is thrown in disruption when left with an aunt 2. Saved by Tramp – roguish street dog 3. Tramp wins heart of Lady and the marry, settle down and have a bunch of puppies 4. Idealization of family life with animals iv. Pollyanna (1960) 1. Orphan goes to live with her aunt in turn-of-the-century America 2. Plays the Glad Game 3. Pollyanna moving this society to a sort of wholesome family life in a more modern vein 4. Nature of the movie itself: wholesome family entertainment f. See female characters that play an important role in these films: moral authority and are pretty assertive characters in their own way as they live up to moral authority i. A lot of these female characters are very physically attracted – wholesome sex appeal ii. EX. Cinderella (1950) 1. Appears as ideal American young woman: pretty but not sexy in cheap way, yearns for family, understood that marriage is the object of young women iii. EX. Old Yeller (1957) 1. Wife and mother in this film is interesting a. She is the figure who holds things together b. Husband is away so she’s managing the home, farm and sons c. Manages the crisis that erupts when Old Yeller gets rabies d. Paragon of strength and moral authority iv. EX. Peter Pan (1953)

IV.

1. Most interesting thing is character of Tinker Bell a. She was very sexy b. Based on Marilyn Monroe 2. Studio moving to define American woman g. Hayley Mills i. Became leading symbol of American woman Disney style ii. Daughter of family of English actors iii. Market her as symbol of everything that is good and wholesome about American women iv. Does a lot of interviews v. Creates this image of an ideal woman in training vi. Also lets slip that she is modern: loves rock and roll, Elvis Presley vii. Admits she wants to be a mother, have children viii. Becomes big star of two Disney movies that were crucial in understanding Disney’s view in this period The Family Triumphant a. Family in trouble, then some sort of crisis, family ends up revitalized b. The Parent Trap (1961) i. Story of American family in crisis because of divorce ii. About set of twins played by Hayley Mills iii. Ends in the typical family iv. Image stitched at beginning: “Bless Our Broken Home” – comes back at end where broken is replaced with happy c. Swiss Family Robinson i. Allegory for Cold War family ideal ii. Family is subject to ship wreck on way to America and stuck on an island iii. Make life for themselves through American value: hard work, determination, family solidarity iv. Tree house is almost replica of suburban family house up in a tree v. Challenge to family comes when marauding oriental pirates show up vi. They save the day

Disney and Cold War Culture II: Films October 26, 2017 I.

Swiss Family Robinson a. See notes above...