Buffalo Bill and Disney Essay

Coney Island and Disneyland are two historical representations of pleasurable pastimes where Americans could go to temporarily leave behind their stereotypical duties and rigid social conduct. The American culture in the late nineteenth century to the twentieth century was a time period where Americans were establishing standards on ways to act and live in America. These standards combined the idea of happiness with socially acceptable behavior. Over time the American Dream became more defined, where the white picket house family was the ideal goal for any American. This traditional mindset would pave the way for the creators of Coney Island and Disneyland to create a place where Americans could escape these social constructs to have fun.

The American West is one of the most famous and important part of the American history. The American West or another name the American Frontier started off in the late-1700 and ended in mid-1940. Although that part of history ended, but the influence and the old west culture is still around today. So let get into the history of the American West, of what made the West what it is and how all the forces molded the West.

Wild West Shows were traveling vaudeville performances in the United States and Europe. The first and prototypical wild west show was Buffalo Bill's, formed in 1883 and lasting until 1913. The shows introduced many western performers and personalities, and a

As the 19th century closes, the west held the reputation of mythical proportion and defined the United States’ identity during the gilded age. Promises and dreams of having free land, your own freedom, and wealth for all people infatuate the nation and those who hear of the frontier; these myths created a “golden gilding “ which masks the actual turmoil and issues in the United States. In 1863, historian, Frederick Jackson Turner lectured, “‘The Significance of the Frontier in American History,’ in which he argued that on the western frontier the distinctive qualities of American culture were forged: individual freedom, political democracy, and economic mobility.” These tall tales created in the country a drive to push and inhabit the west

The history of how The Walt Disney Company came to be started from a small individual who enjoyed drawing and used art as a way to escape reality, his name was Walt Disney. After the World War 1 ended, Disney went to Kansas City where he later created an animated company that went bankruptcy. Walt Disney moved to Hollywood where he met M.J Winkler a distributor, Disney become part of her production partner. (The Walt Disney Company) In 1927 Disney created a series where the distributor copyright the main character and Disney only made a few hundred dollars, therefore Disney decide to leave and created that same series with a different name which was Mickey Mouse. Disney decided to go with his brother Roy and created Mickey Mouse films. When Disney wanted to put out Steamboat Willie many film producers did not like the film’s idea until Pat Powers decided to release the film in theaters. The film gave Disney enough money to start on other projects which later those project turn out to be such as the amusement parks, merchandise, etc. In December 15, 1966 Walt Disney died from Lung Cancer, Disney’s brother Roy made sure that Disney’s believes and philosophy about the company would still be passed on by the company 's employee. (The Walt Disney Company) The company kept going which has become of the greatest companies that are socially responsible and sustainable.

To show the World’s Columbian Exposition’s lasting effect on America and its innovators, the text illustrates, “The ranks included a carpenter and furniture maker named Elias Disney, who in coming years would tell many stories about the construction of this magical realm beside the lake. His son Walt would take note.” (Larson, Page 153) This 20th century cultural reference helps to make a connection between the World’s Fair and its effects on the people involved with it, as well as the rest of America. This allusion shows that Walt Disney, the son of a carpenter working at the fair, took the World’s Columbian Exposition as an inspiration to create his own land filled with magic and wonder: Disney’s Magic Kingdom, which millions upon millions of people have had the pleasure of visiting. Therefore, this cultural allusion helps to show the connection between the Fair and the lasting impression it made on

In the territorial expansion of the United States during the mid to late 1880’s, settlers went on trek west of the Mississippi River, across the Great Plains, as far as the Pacific Ocean in a quest to seek profits and resources. One animal that owned this expansive territory and once stood for a symbol of abundance during this time period was the Buffalo, or as naturalists com-monly refer to as the Bison. Settlers across the Great Plains along with Native American’s of the region slaughtered this bovine species to near extinction by 1876. In the book “Down To Earth” by Ted Steinberg, he chronicles the expansion of American territory during the mid-1880s and references the dramatic annihilation of the Buffalo population caused by the expansion. Cross referencing Steinberg’s work with the primary source of Richard Irving Dodge’s “The Hunting Grounds of the Great West,” would give compelling analysis of the

Buffalo Bill’s cowboy characters were a personified version of what the American public regarded as a moral pillar, when in reality, the cowboys mainly did ranch work and

Although the utopian notion of ‘the West’ had been a prominent mythology in American culture from colonial times, another and very central aspect of the development of the mythic West must be illuminated in order to explain why the mythic West’s position has remained. By reviewing how the academic study of the West has developed, this chapter will argue it is the mythic version of the West that remains alive and potent in American culture and identity today despite these changes. Frederick Jackson Turner and the “Frontier Thesis” While the American West had been described and imagined in utopian terms before the 1890s, “what was needed to give the myth permanent substance was an intellectual justification for the continuing presence of the

Will’s cowboy persona is attributed to much of his success on the stage. Viewers were unfamiliar with his Indian background, and that was uncommon in the vaudeville show business of the time. The people were interested in the western life, and Wild West shows, such as Texas Jack’s Wild West show helped stir the interest in the American Wild West. At this point in time, there were also several paintings and books that used the west as their inspiration and setting. The Virginian, was one such book that was immensely popular during the time, and it was dedicated to President Theodore Roosevelt, which made it even more desirable to the public. Will served as a real-life representation of the west, which was circulating the public in the east.

     Walt Disney; When that name is spoken faces of children and adults alike light up with looks of sheer joy. When debating what to see at the movies the newest Disney flick is almost always decided upon over the others. With Disney people are 100 percent sure to walk out of the theater happy and smiling. From the catchy theme songs to the thrilling theme parks Disney has built the fantasy empire. Although he built the fantasy world Disney was not a man who walked around with his head in the clouds. He used his animation and film making skills to not only make fantastic movies but to also bring joy into times of war, fun into times of education, and excitement into times of vacation

The Walt Disney Company started as a small entertainment company in 1923 (Disney.com, 2011). Since that time the company has used various strategies enabling them to grow into a global entertainment company.

American history teaches us that, going west has always been a regarded as progression. From the earliest settlers to the “new land” to the idea of Manifest Destiny, progressive movement and thinking has always traveled west. The west is always thought of as being more liberal more free. “True West” A compelling play written by Sam Shepard, developed characters that “struggle to define and assert their identities.” <1702> By using the idea of going west Shepard’s play’s “ present a picture of America torn between its idealistic values and the painful realties of frontier paved over for a parking lot, and cowboys enclosed in a move and television screen.”<1702> By comparing and contrasting the lead characters Austin and Lee, Shepard shows the reader that “going west” does not always mean a change in the right direction.

Many successful companies use essential marketing tools. Branding is one of the most important. Marketing is another tool that is paramount to a brand’s success and stimulates consumer demand of product. Branding has a powerful influence on the manner of which people perceive how companies spend each and every year to develop a brand’s image, shines light on the significance of branding. The influence branding has created impacts everything about the product.

Culturally, Disney cannot force itself on another people, which in this case was the whole of the European continent. Disney promoted its product, the theme park, similar to that of Tokyo Disneyland believing Europe wanted their piece of “Americana”.