by Teri Meeuwsen, undergrad

Behind those famous ears and the four-fingered mouse is a corporation that has grown into a multimillion-dollar example of popular culture.

Or that's what students in a course called "Understanding Disney: The Manufacture of Fantasy" are learning.

Journalism and Communication professor Janet Wasko began teaching the class six years ago to look at and better understand the different aesthetic aspects of popular culture. She uses Disney to expose graduate and undergraduate students to a variety of approaches to studying these forms of popular culture.

"Some think [the class] is just watching cartoons, when it's really a lot more, especially in the light of Disney's expansions," she said.

The class begins with a look at the different historical perspectives of Disney and then focuses on the economic and political aspects of the company and its connections to other social institutions. The class examines Disney's movie releases, product lines and income generated from these sources.

Students look at the audience the company has attracted and how Disney influences individual audience members and cultures around the world. Students will view "The Little Mermaid," "Pinocchio," "The Lion King" and short cartoons of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other Disney creations.

"It's a film class, public relations class and economics class in one," said Andi Stein, a doctoral student in public relations. "I find it entertaining and very, very informative. You really take a look behind the manufactured illusion of fantasy and take a good look at the business that's always been there."

Doctoral student Ellen Riordan said the class made her look at the Disney corporation in a whole new light.

In the class, students do a textual analysis of Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and how it reflects Disney's morals and stereotypes concerning women. The class generated discussion about the ideas that Disney deals with and the concerns it creates for children and families.

"It gives them this idea of Prince Charming and that we will find someone that takes care of us and we live happily ever after. But it's detrimental for women who believe in that myth," Riordan said. "Disney also focuses a lot on the mainstream American white culture. If they had focused on other cultures in the beginning, they would have seen a different kind of company."

Wasko has been working on a book titled Understanding Disney about the popular cultural aspects of the corporation. It is due on bookshelves next year.

Wasko also is working on a global Disney project, based on interviews of Disney's audiences in 15 countries. Wasko will present the results of her study at a conference in Scotland in July.

Reprinted with permission from the Oregon Daily Emerald.