Disney's Conservative Christianity

 

          It is suggested, and supported by much research, by many that religion plays a very important role in the Disney franchise. In his article "Disney's Frozen Might Be the Most Christian Movie Lately", Mark Pinsky gives a brief overview of the use of religion in Disney films over time. Pinsky states that religion was something that founder Walt Disney avoided being obvious in his films because he was afraid of losing, or singling out viewers. He suggests that this is perhaps why Walt Disney chose to include magic over religion in his films. Since the early 1990s, when Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg took over the production studio, Disney's films have become more forward with their religious content compared to their previous productions.

 

          Throughout “Disney Culture” by Chris Rojek, it is suggested that the Disney franchise is an example of “rational recreation”. He focuses on examining the themes present in Disney movies and Disney Theme parks. He argues that the Disney franchise is very bias and presents conservative views and the ideal ‘The American Way’ of life, and to a further extent, what it means to be a “good person” – a Christian. Eleanor Byrne suggests that Disney films are one and the same with a certain conservative views in society. Byrne’s book “Deconstructing Disney” discusses concerns with Disney productions such as race, gender and sexuality, and a broader context of American culture – including religion. Like Rojek, she also suggests that Disney films conform to conservative views and include Christian undertones simply because that is what society is comfortable with.

 

          Furthermore, Gary Laderman on the other hand discusses in his article “The Disney way of Death”, the moral aspects of producer Walt Disney’s productions. Laderman focuses on Disney’s “obsession with death” and how death appears in some form in almost every Disney film – whether it is someone actually dying or a near death experience. Death in closely related to the practice of religion so it is significant that the theme of death is so prominent throughout Disney’s productions.

 

          Disney productions seem to be one in one with typical, conservative American culture. Anything that is “out of the ordinary” or is not accepted in North American conservative society is not present in most Disney productions. Christianity is the most recognized and practiced religion in North American culture so it makes sense for the undertones of these “conservative” films to suggest Christianity in many of their productions.

 

 

Laderman, Gary. "The Disney way of death." Journal of the American Academy of Religion (2000): 27-46. Web.  February 1, 2015. 

 

Rojek, Chris. "Disney culture." Leisure Studies 12.2 (1993): 121-135. Web. February 3, 2015. 

 

Byrne, Eleanor, and Martin McQuillan. Deconstructing Disney. Pluto, 1999. Print. 

 

Pinsky, Mark. "Disney's Frozen Might Be the Most Christian Movie Lately." The Guardian. N.p., 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.