With his thumbprint on the most ubiquitous films of childhood; Walt Disney is widely considered to be the most conventional of all major American moviemakers. The adjective "Disneyfied" has become shorthand for a creative work that has abandoned any controversial or substantial content to find commercial success.But does Disney deserve that reputation? Douglas Brode overturns the idea of Disney as a middlebrow filmmaker by detailing how Disney movies played a key role in transforming children of the Eisenhower era into the radical youth of the Age of Aquarius. Using close readings of Disney projects; Brode shows that Disneys films were frequently ahead of their time thematically. Long before the cultural tumult of the sixties; Disney films preached pacifism; introduced a generation to the notion of feminism; offered the screens first drug-trip imagery; encouraged young people to become runaways; insisted on the need for integration; advanced the notion of a sexual revolution; created the concept of multiculturalism; called for a return to nature; nourished the cult of the righteous outlaw; justified violent radicalism in defense of individual rights; argued in favor of communal living; and encouraged antiauthoritarian attitudes. Brode argues that Disney; more than any other influence in popular culture; should be considered the primary creator of the sixties counterculturemdash;a reality that couldnt be further from his "conventional" reputation.
#1584967 in eBooks 2012-10-30 2012-10-30File Name: B00K61X6OA
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Musical SupportBy PLVSIm enjoying the book very much. Now I need to see some of the shows I havent seen that are described in the book. The descriptions in Kats book will help me to better understand what is happening in the musicals and especially the way the music supports the action. Thanks; Kat!!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent- something for everyone!By John CI cant recommend this book enough. Sherrell succeeds wholeheartedly with the Herculean task of encapsulating and providing context for a perpetually evolving art form; for everyone from the complete neophyte to the seasoned veteran. Tackling the historical; socio-economic; cultural; and stylistic origins of an inherently American medium and managing to be instructive while never overwhelming is as impressive a feat as any Broadway triple threat.To tell the story of Broadway is to tell the stories of a myriad of musical traditions; from opera to jazz; rock to hip hop; as well as the stories of the near-mythic composers; writers; producers; and performers who pushed the genre forward. Sherrell manages this impressive balancing act through an historic buffet of Broadway moments; a hundred slices of time and place that simultaneously capture the excitement/concrete setting of an event while threading it seamlessly into a larger narrative. What sets this compendium apart from other books on Broadway history is how she manages to do so with ease; marrying the didactic with the casual. Perhaps it is Sherrells status as both a Broadway insider AND ardent fan that allows her to craft a listeners companion suited to all from the musically uninitiated to working professionals within the field itself.As both an educator and musical theater performer; Id happily recommend this to my colleagues; students; and family members who just want to know ldquo;what it is exactly that I do for a living.rdquo; There was plenty in here that was both comfortably familiar and happily new to me; keeping this miles away from a boring rote-retelling of Historys Greatest Hits. The musical analyses woven throughout manage to be accessible to the musically untrained while also providing a fresh breakdown/perspective for aficionados as well.Its hard to write something that is simultaneously introductory while managing to provide new depth for the well-initiated and in that regard; Experiencing Broadway: A Listeners Companion is a smash hit. It offers as much for the layman or the professional; the casual listener or the fanatic; as the irrepressible diversity of Broadway itself.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Experience Broadway with fresh earsBy Noah GordinesKat Sherrell presents a thorough and thoughtful guide to fans of Broadway Musicals. Tackling historical; sociological; economic; and musical issues that come with a production; theres something for every reader. Kat shares some insider info; and helps to guide your listening; making the listening experience interesting whether its your first time experiencing that musical or the thousandth time. For newcomers and theater geeks alike; this book will certainly awaken your experiences. Each section stands alone well enough for you to pick and choose certain sections to read. My only disappointment is that West Side Story was not given much attention; but that could be due to extensive coverage in other books. A delightful; intelligent; and eye opening read for all!
