“From 1984 to 1994, a perfect storm of people and circumstances changed the fate of animation forever” (Hahn, 2009). Quoted from the film, ‘Waking Sleeping Beauty’, the documentary tracks Disney Productions, from a time of corporate chaos through to what is called the “Renaissance” of animation film; producing some of the most captivating animation films of all time (Hahn, 2009). This essay will analyse the different expressions of power that are uncovered in this film in terms of French and Raven’s 1959 theory on power, and how it impacted relationships, the creative team and their work.
Raven (2008) describes social power as the potential to influence the ability of the agent to bring about change, using the resources available to him.
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Howard Ashman, an expert in the theatre was brought in by Peter Schneider to work on the film ‘The Little Mermaid’ (Hahn, 2009). His expertise and leadership became a huge influence on making such a successful movie (Hahn, 2009). Howard’s expert power was an important factor for this film which was positively correlated by the creative team, Jong and Hartog (2007) explain how leaders such as Howard can embrace the role of “knowledge coaches” to help inspire and develop new ideas and stimulate others in the creative team. Such contributions of making Sebastian the crab Jamaican, and working on the songs for ‘Under The Sea’ and Ariel’s song ‘Part Of Your World’ are some of the most memorable moments in the film, winning multiple awards (Hahn, 2009). By working with the creative team Howard further influenced creator Glen Keane to design Ariel, one of the biggest jobs in the film (Hahn, 2009). By displaying expert power Howard gained an immense amount of referent power as the creatives refer to him as “pure genius” and constantly admired for his ideas, further emphasizing Howard as an effective leader (Hinkin and Schriesheim, 1989). By displaying factors of transformational leadership the creative team view themselves as equals with Howard, he inspires them and creates a vision that may have impacted on why the movie became such a
The standard Disney story from the mid 1930s to the beginning of the 1940s is one of the pursuit and somewhat linear progression towards realism. Many theorists used the term ‘hyperrealism’ to describe what appeared to be Disney’s “attempt to represent reality in a medium predicated on artificiality” during the Disney-Formalist period (Disney Formalism, Pallant, 40). Indeed, as the animation and technology employed by the company became more advanced, productions relied less on gag-based humor and metamorphosis and more on realistic animation to develop character and narrative. Many critics of this evolution viewed them as “a move away from animation’s main province, as well as a kind of non-artistry produced from simply duplicating live
While most just think of Walt Disney as the creator of the Disney movie empire and the Disney theme parks, those such as author Steven Watts, who think more deeply about Disney, consider him to be the “influential architect of modern America” (Watts, p. 4). While the genius of Walt Disney has affected many aspects of American, and now overseas, cultures, his empire has had a significant impact on what people experience during childhood.
The Disney corporation is easily the greatest empire of entertainment in the world, thanks to the creator Walt Disney and his brother. Disney’s influence has been great within culture and society and I learned how much of an influence Disney has had through our course this semester. This influence is reflected and broadcast through the many works and readings that we examine in class. The articles gave me new knowledge about Disney that I was previously unaware of.
At this point, with an understanding of what power is, what it means, how it is created and the various means through which it is expressed, one can begin to conceptualise how it is that power functions within a given society. Symbolic, cultural, social and economic capital distribute and perpetuate power within a society, through a cycle of transformation whereby these capital resources can be interchanged and manipulated to the advantage of individuals who have
This paper will assess the corporate culture of Walt Disney, addressing the background of the organization, training and teaching, stories, legends and myths associated with the company, philosophy, values, mission statement and the organizational goals of the company.
His work in modern media was revolutionary. Moreover, he broadened communication and made it easier to learn about new cultures. Disney’s movies play a vital role in children’s development and their productivity when they enter the “real world”.
The biological differences that set apart the male and female gender throughout any culture remain eminent. Men are perceived as the stronger and dominant gender; women play the role of the weaker. In each culture the expectation of the manner in which men and women behave are influenced by the ideals and customs of that culture. In most predominant cultures, the man undertakes the role as a leader, and the woman devotes her life to the husband. Throughout history, traditions and literature provide a template to the identities of various cultures. Sleeping Beauty’s classic tale of a beautiful princess takes a central precept that previous patriarchal archetypes dominated during the 17th Century. The archetypal perceptions of women resulted from conscious and unconscious literature influenced by male-dominated perspectives and social standards.
In order to understand the particular relationship which an individual who actively pursues the transformation of a vision for positive social change into a reality has with the external power resources required to manifest such a reality, it is necessary to have a minimal understanding of the specific power resources engaged. One specific power resource which has historically been employed as a vehicle of change is that of a social movement.
In society today, we are conditioned to believe certain sets of ideals. We use these ideals to interact and get along with the other people we surround ourselves with. These ideals are often the societal norms that form common ground amongst individuals. However, living life based off these basic and unchanging beliefs is not beneficial to humanity, nor does it make life any easier to live. In fact, holding on to the most accepted beliefs holds back society as a whole. Judith Halberstam, in her essay “Animating Revolt and Revolting Animation” challenges these societal norms through the analysis of animated movies and, in doing so, carves a path for a new way of thinking.
Zipes, along with other scholars such as Eleanor Byrne and Martin McQuillan, authors of the book Deconstructing Disney, explore and catalogue the various ways in which Walt Disney-the man-and Disney-the corporation that is his legacy-perpetuate social figurations of race, gender and ethnocentrism through they films they produce. They furthermore critique Disney for reducing fairy tales to over-simplified, over-sanitized and over-sentimentalized banalities designed solely as a profit-generating products. Such analyses prove to be truly important work, as the socio-cultural ideas propagated by Disney, as well as the means by it executed such propagation prove key in unlocking the messages that are sent through seemingly harmless "entertainment". As Zipes keenly point out,
Power has been defined as the psychological relations over another to get them to do what you want them to do. We are exposed to forms of power from the time of birth. Our parents exercise power over us to behave in a way they deem appropriate. In school, teachers use their power to help us learn. When we enter the work world the power of our boss motivates us to perform and desire to move up the corporate ladder so that we too can intimidate someone with power one day. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Kurtz had a power over the jungle and its people that was inexplicable.
In today’s modern age, young children are being raised by their TV screen. Reining from the original tales of Perrault and the Grim Brothers, the Disney princess line has been a staple on the screens since the 1930s (Do Rozario 1). However, these princesses have gone through dramatic changes to remain relevant to todays youth. The effects that can be influenced by the roles expressed in these types of films send mixed messages to the audience, causing them to ask themselves whether or not they should believe what the princess is expressing on the screen.
"The Cultural Studies Reader." : Henry Giroux: Children's Culture and Disney's Animated Films – Summary. The Cultural Studies Reader, 6 June 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.
In her dissertation the Most Powerful Mouse in the World Michaela J. Roberts seeks to explore investigates the development of the Disney Company and its global brand. She separates her findings into 3 main components. The overall brand of Disney, how Disney displays that brand on global scale, and why other companies should follow the leadership style set by Disney’s Brand. Through this we see the growth of the brand as well as its transition to a worldwide
As a result of the varying circumstances that helped evolve the story the popularity of the sleeping Beauty soared causing it to become a worldwide phenomenon. As opposed to its relative obscurity of the earlier versions one has to ask if the story didn't change would we even have the story today?