[csaa-forum] CCLCS RESEARCH SEMINAR 11 AUGUST: ANGELA NDALIANIS on WALT DISNEY AND UTOPIAN VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

[Andrew Milner]

CENTRE FOR COMPARATIVE LITERATURE AND CULTURAL STUDIES
Monash University, Melbourne.

RESEARCH SEMINAR

Wednesday 11 August, 3.00 to 4.30 pm, Room W710, Menzies Building 
(Building 11)

WALT DISNEY AND UTOPIAN VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

Angela Ndalianis

Angela Ndalianis is Associate Professor in Cinema and Cultural Studies
at the University of Melbourne.  Her publications include Stars in Our
Eyes: the Star Phenomenon in the Contemporary Era (2002), Neo-Baroque
Aesthetics and Contemporary Entertainment (2004), Super/Heroes: from
Hercules to Superman (2007) and The Comic Book Superhero (2009).

Abstract

In this paper, Pierre Bismuth’s desire to disturb expected reactions
to works of art – as witnessed in The Jungle Book Project (2002) –
becomes a starting point through which to explore Walt Disney’s own
approach to his art. With the opening of Disneyland in 1955, Disney
transformed his animated worlds and characters into 3-dimensional
spaces that individuals could walk into and interact with. In doing
so, he created what he and many urban planners considered to be a
utopian space. Disney’s obsession with urban planning would culminate
in his later vision of a utopian community – Project X – which
remained unrealised due to his death but which was revised into the
theme park EPCOT (Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow) and the
town Celebration. This paper will explore Disney’s work and his filmic
understanding of urban planning, which came to influence contemporary
architects such as Jon Jerde and the design of cities including Las
Vegas.

ALL WELCOME

For further details contact Professor Andrew Benjamin
<Andrew.Benjamin at monash.edu>

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Centre for Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies
School of English, Communications and Performance Studies
Monash University
Melbourne
Victoria 3800
AUSTRALIA

Phone: (61) (3)  9905 2095
Fax: (61) (3) 9905 5593
Email: arts-clcs at monash.edu
Homepage:
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/clcs/research/