On March 4, 2019 I took part in DePaul's annual Pop Culture Conference, which gathers academics and fans from around the country to celebrate an aspect of pop culture. This years focus was a Celebration of Disney. As a junior, I presented among established academics on the topic "EPCOT vs. 'IP'COT: EPCOTs Battle to Retain the 'Theme' Part of Them Park.
I also wrote an accompanying paper that was published in the conference book. Here are some highlights from it:
"The music seems to swell, the popcorn smell is now joined by that of baked goods and ice cream, a horse-drawn carriage trots by, and you're transported into a new reality. The reality of Disneyland."
"The feeling of getting your moneys worth, proper dispersion of guests, and the attitude of guests in the park are all amazing side effects of the theming that Disney uses"
"If these fictional worlds being put in the park are passed off as real, it directly conflicts with the idea that guests are experiencing a walk around the world. Thus, these fictional worlds must be exposed as such...In the gift shop, rather than just shop for souvenirs, guests could explore exhibits showcasing how the filmmakers of Frozen drew from the cultures of places like Norway when creating the fictional queendom of Arendelle."
