Peer Responses for Discussion Board

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WEEK6-PEERRESPONSES.docx

Please respond to each discussion post with about 100-150 words.

POST #1

Disneyland Opens. (2020, July 15). Retrieved July 14, 2022, from Disneyland Opens - HISTORY

The History of Disneyland. (2020, September 1). Retrieved July 14, 2022, from History Of Disneyland And Timeline - A Day In LA Tours

Las Vegas. (2020, December 4). Retrieved July 14, 2022, from Las Vegas - History, The Mafia & Casinos - HISTORY

Between the beginning and middle time of the 1900’s, entertainment was booming all over the country whether it was music, movies, television, or live entertainment, Americans got to see it up close and personal. Entertainment was all around us and there were also many visionaries who wanted to push the boundaries of what people would want to see and what they would pay for it. Two top giants that evolved during this time was Disneyland and the Las Vegas Strip. Pioneers of entertainment that have both stood the test of time.

Americans thrived on getting the most of any experience that the world could give them, and some people came up with ways of giving them just what they needed, showbiz in a bottle basically! Now when you think of Disneyland and the Las Vegas Strip your imagination goes in complete opposite ways in what they stand for in moral standings, in the atmosphere they give to people, the memories that will last a lifetime for everyone who visits each place so really are they that far apart from each other? Makes you think on that.

There is some comparison for both establishments in that they both started from nothing, Disneyland once was nothing, but farmland and the Las Vegas Strip was out in a desert. It just took people who could envision what could really be there. Both places are full of entertainment, Disneyland you can take your family out for family wholesome goodness and the Strip was some entertainment like no other where you could enjoy more with the inner child of most adults. Both places had iconic buildings like Disneyland had Stage Coach, Jungle Cruise, Space X-1, Snow White Adventures, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride while the Vegas Strip had the Sahara, the Sands, New Frontier, and the Riviera. All these places drew people in all other to experience something they would never be able to in their hometown.

Now of course we all know they both are not alike in many areas too such as Disneyland is more for families, was the dream of Walt Disney who is well known for his cartoons and quite an entrepreneur, pushed family morals more than anything. Now for the Vegas Strip it was more exotic of entertainment, mobsters took over and ended up having majority of the clubs and casinos built to make money, and it’s a place to have a quick wedding but also a quick divorce.

Overall either establishment is all about what type of entertainment meets the top genre of people in America. Whether it is more exotic and erotic or more of the type of bringing back childhood memories and making new ones, there is something magical about both places. Each place has held against how the country has changed and yet there they are standing as top icons and known all around the world. People cannot think about America without thinking about the Las Vegas Strip and Disneyland, both together is America.

POST #2

Youth Culture and Counterculture

The youth culture emerged in the 1950s, dividing the generational lines where young adults deviated from society's mainstream values. The Youth movement developed during the baby boom era, which brought a rapid population rise, especially among young people. The youth movement rejected certain aspects of their society, such as materialism, racial discrimination, and gender equality. The evolution of the youths brought them independence which was evident in certain rebellious behaviors like obsession with fast cars, scandalous dance moves, and a general mindset of self-determination. The youth culture in the fifties largely influenced the pop culture in America since it had distinct ideologies from the older generation who couldn’t comprehend the shift. 

The Youth Culture was a necessary social revolution that historically set the roots for teenagers. Youth movement members expressed themselves through fashion, music, art, and literature. The use of recreational drugs characterized the movement, and they advocated for sexual, cultural, political, and social liberation. The Youth Culture and Counterculture were two different manifestations of the campaign, although they were closely related. The media was a dominating factor in the youth movement, which consisted mainly of White middle-class teenagers who wanted to rectify the social injustices in America. Films were the main form of media that facilitated the transformation from traditional to youth culture by influencing their mindset.

The post-war economic growth led to concerns about American people's individual lives, which the capitalist and imperialist societies were oppressing. The Vietnam war and America's part in the warfare were the main focus of the youth movement, which condemned the violation of human rights and the violence that led to the bloodshed of many people. The fifties also witnessed the rise of feminist movements that addressed reproductive rights and gender equality. The counterculture was a moderate and radical movement borne by youths out of the beat movement. Their main objective was to overcome the oppressive culture of their parents and embrace spontaneity and autonomy (Desjardins, 2016).  The counterculture divided America since some viewed the attributes of the movements as a clear reflection of the country's ideologies of equity, freedom of speech, and universal peace. On the other hand, some viewed the values upheld by the movement to be a poor reflection of the country’s moral values.

The youth culture and counterculture raised awareness to question the repressive social and cultural norms, which led to the overall mistrust of authority. The hippies were synonymous with the counterculture, and their open-mindedness was responsible for creating the generation gap where the younger and older generation shared highly different perspectives on social issues. The counterculture movement embraced spirituality and rock and roll music, highlighting the peace and civil rights movements (Bousalis, 2021). Rock became a weapon of cultural upheaval, and it urged its listeners to reject government policies through protest songs. The peace sign was one of the most prominent symbols of the counterculture era, and the extensive economic development afforded the youth leisure time to address societal issues. Musicians like Bob Dylan were crucial in shaping the youth movement and securing a place for music in the counterculture. 

The counterculture provided a platform for non-conformists to spread their views on community issues through satirical art and theatre. Underground and independent newspapers emerged, although they faced constant harassment from law officers who charged their writers with drug-related charges and arrested their vendors on the street. Counterculture advocated for the civil rights of the minorities to ensure the integration of all races in America. During the counterculture, music festivals or concerts became popular, and the movement's ideologies were reflected by young adults in theatre, art, film, and music. The hippie movement sexually liberated young people by losing their inhibitions and making cohabitation acceptable. In conclusion, the establishment of the counterculture and youth movement enabled young people to embark on a journey of self-discovery rather than conforming to the traditional standards of the older generation. The youth and counterculture movement marked a significant community change that pioneered an integrated society of peace, love, and happiness.

POST #3

Walt Disney and the Theme Parks

COLLAPSE

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This week, I have decided to compare the same historical artifact from American Pop Culture, taking the 1960’s version and comparing it to what it is today: Disney Parks and Resorts. Over the years, The Walt Disney Company has become an icon, not only in the vacation destination world, but in the film industry as well. We have all come to know Disney movies and Disney Parks and Resorts, yet there is so much history within the development of Disney Parks, it's easy to see them as two different entities within themselves.  

For example, comparing Walt Disney World and Disneyland in modern times is a feat in and of itself. Disneyland in California is known more as a local's park, as it is the smallest of all Disney Parks and Resorts, it is not the vacation capital of the world like its American sister, Walt Disney World in Florida. With that being said though, today we’re going to dive head-first into the history of Disneyland and how it compares to the modernized viewpoint on the vacation destination icon the Walt Disney Company has become. 

Disneyland was officially opened to the public on July 17th, 1955. At the time, Walt and his dream were on such a tight time-constraint and monetary budget that on opening day, women wearing heels often had the heel of their shoe get stuck in the still-wet pavement. Comparing it to today’s parks, Disney is such an industry leader in quality that its unheard of for guests to run into budgeting issues. It was expected that Disneyland’s opening day was expecting 11,000 guests, but by mid-afternoon, over 28,000 ticket holders were heading for Disneyland, causing unprecedented traffic jams. At the time, Walt Disney and his team had created something like never before, a vacation destination that was fully immersive in theme. Though it was a massive success for the time, when we look back it's hard to imagine that a mere 28,000 people showed up on the opening day, knowing where we are in the present. 

Of course, this brings us to today, where 28,000 people at Walt Disney World would be a vacationer’s dream, considering the resort sees around 250,000 visitors per day now, according to Magic Guides. Over time, we’ve seen such a growth in guest traffic, and a massive growth in the parks themselves. Since the opening of Disneyland, the parks and resorts have gone through multiple cultural changes based on American ideals, and of course, rose to the top in popularity for both theme parks and within the film industry, allowing for these massive changes to come forth. 

Overall, we have looked at the history of Disneyland and the comparisons to the modern theme parks within the Walt Disney Company, but one thing that has remained constant is the magic. Disney prides itself on immersive opportunities for guests to delve into different worlds and time periods, and have upheld that image throughout the test of time. 

Magic Guides, Disney World Statistics, https://magicguides.com/disney-world-statistics/#:~:text=An%20average%20of%20250%2C000%20guests,and%20boats%20owned%20by%20Disney.  

Designing Disney, The Grand Opening of Disneyland, https://www.designingdisney.com/parks/disneyland-resort/grand-opening-disneyland/#:~:text=Only%2011%2C000%20people%20were%20expected,Disneyland%2C%20causing%20unprecedented%20traffic%20jams.  

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