Disney Imagery
Re “Of God and Mickey,” Nov. 28: Disney theme parks, a “degenerative utopia” that encourages the visitor to become “the passive recipient of whatever Disney chooses to download”? Disneyland, “the secular American version of Lourdes”? Give me a break. The article, quoting Catholic theologian Thomas Ryba, stated, “This suspension of critical thinking ‘allows the [Disneyland] visitor to bask in the myths.’ ”
Well, isn’t that the point? Look, I spent the better half of my women’s studies course at UCLA dissecting Disney films, but I still love to watch them. At 33, I still love going to Disneyland and losing myself in this “imagineered” utopia, the same way I suspend my critical thinking whenever I watch “E.T.” or “The X-Files.” You can spend your entire life ferreting out underlying themes of sexism, racism and religion in all things Disney or you can sit back, relax and enjoy. I think people like these scholars need to quit taking everything so seriously. Life is too short. Have some fun. I’m going to Disneyland.
VICTORIA CARLSON
North Hollywood
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