http://disney.go.com/disneynature
Many in the class will react to this sort of information with cynicism, but I fail to see the problem with Disney giving more information out to the general public about nature. Though I agree that people should be going outside for themselves and getting that "authentic" relationship with nature that we all need, most people will not take the time to do so. With the hectic lifestyle that so many have today, it is difficult to remember the bigger things in nature that are going on around us. These DisneyNature films, along with the True-Life Adventure series from the past, are continuing to teach the public about "the beauty and fragility of the world." These films allow people to see parts of nature that they would otherwise never get to experience, and therefore build their relationship with this nature which then gives them incentive to want to help to conserve it.
Disney is known as a company of family fun, and incorporating a larger theme of nature into the company will reach out to many families, especially children. In other aspects of the company, besides film, they are trying to reach out to the youth - the next generation that will be taking care of our planet. The Disney Company has also started a new campaign called Friends for Change through the Disney Channel utilizing their current teen stars to spread a message to children that they really can make a difference. Disneyland as well has started using environmentally friendly resources and selling "eco-friendly" and "organic" souvenirs. This trend of being friends with our environment, though it may still be a bit shallow, can only be beneficial to our earth. Capitalization of corporate culture on marketing the importance of nature to the public shouldn't be considered such a bad thing -- the actual awareness is what's important.
Isabella: Thanks for reminding us not to be entirely skeptical of commercial attempts to incorporate nature into our everyday lives (and in this case, our moviegoing or movie-watching experiences, which to date have largely been dominated by Hollywood blockbusters). I am fascinated by Disney's establishment of this nature subsidiary, and in fact, why they chose France to begin their operations. Is there something about the French national sensibility that is more receptive to environmental consciousness?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Isabella on the point that corporate marketed nature does actually serve to connect us to nature to some degree. Without zoos, parks, and movies,etc, it is not easy for most of us to be aware of the kinds of organisms that exist in nature.
ReplyDeleteHi Isabella! I agree with your point, but it does make me think about how "commercializing" nature may be problematic because it seems to create an illusion that nature is something completely "marketable"--something that embodies brilliant colors as the signature Disney paintbrush illustrates. I actually havent had the chance to watch Disney's Earth, but I hope they do remind its viewers that sometimes what the movie portrays is an "ideal" form of nature that we should strive for and not what may exist in the present.
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