Disology 29: Disney and Disology in 2022
2021 was a crazy year for Disney, and 2022 is only going to get crazier! We recap some of our favorite moments from 2021, what we’re looking forward to (and what we’re wary of) in 2022, and what’s next for Disology.
Disology 28: Modern Disney Folklore: (Probably) Not What You Think!
Description: When you think of Disney and folklore, the first things that come to mind are probably fairy tales and castles. But folklore encompasses a huge variety of cultures and practices. In this episode, Rachel and Sam break down some of the types of modern Disney “folklore,” and how we participate in them today.
Let us know: What’s your family’s Disney folklore? Answer our question on Spotify, or let us know on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
To learn more about the topic of folklore, listen to Stuff You Should Know or read this article on How Stuff Works.
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Disology 27: It's All a Bunch of Hocus Pocus: Is the Critique Really That Critical?
Rachel and Sam go over a list of critiques about the historical inaccuracies of the film Hocus Pocus and share some slight insight into casting and inside jokes we mostly missed for the classic Halloween film.
Sources:
25 in-Jokes, Lost Lore and Trivia About ‘Hocus Pocus’ by Nico Lang
A look at the history of the Salem Witch Trials by Kamryn Drake
Hocus Pocus on iMDb
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Disology 26: Down the Roger Rabbit Hole: Exploring the “Original” Disney Multiverse
Description: By now we’re all familiar with the Marvel series, “What If…” but this isn’t Disney’s first dip into the world of multiverses and crazy crossovers. Sam and Rachel are joined once again by Ryan Pagella to explore two insane crossover franchises in Disney history: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and the Kingdom Hearts video game series.
Visit Ryan's pages on YouTube and Facebook!
Sources:
Southwest Airlines and Disney team up for their 50th anniversaries by Taylor Rains on Business Insider
How “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” perfected the art of the crossover by Rafael Motamayor on The Hollywood Reporter
15 Things You Might Not Know About Who Framed Roger Rabbit by M. Arbeiter on Mentalfloss
Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny Shared the Screen 30 Years Ago by Steve Liebman on Disney Diary
Who Disappeared Roger Rabbit from the Disney Parks? By Jim Korkis on Mouse Planet
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To celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Sam and Rachel compare Treasure Island (1950), Muppet Treasure Island, and Treasure Planet to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic and iconic novel.
Additional Sources:
Watch all three movies on Disney+, and read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson on Google Books.
Tim Curry’s Best On-Screen Performances by Phil Archbold on Looper
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Disology 24.5: Tales from the Laugh Floor
Rachel and Sam share some comments from social media about Lindsay, Julia, Megan and Shelby’s experiences with either Turtle Talk with Crush or Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Join us for this fun mini-sode of Disology Podcast.
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Disology 24: No Strings Attached: Digital Puppetry and the Secrets of Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Turtle Talk with Crush (Featuring Chris from Orlando)
Rachel and Sam go through the history of digital puppetry technology, how it’s applied to the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Turtle Talk with Crush attractions at the Disney parks, and its surprising connections to another (non-digital) puppet-based attraction. Plus, Rachel sits down with former cast member Chris from Orlando to learn more about the secrets of the Laugh Floor.
Send us your funny/sweet/memorable stories from either attraction to disologypodcast@gmail.com and we’ll feature it in our next minisode!
Sources and Resources:
Follow Chris from Orlando on YouTube and Facebook
Digital Puppetry on Wikipedia
A Critical History of Computer Graphics and Animation (archived)
The Tech Behind Four New Wonders at Walt Disney World by Seth Porges on Popular Mechanics
Working at the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor: What’s It Like? By Chris from Orlando on YouTube
Go Inside Jim Henson’s New Digital Puppetry Studio on Fast Company
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Disology 23.5: Testing Our Bambi Knowledge
In our first regular minisode, Sam and Rachel take a quiz to test their knowledge of the Disney classic, Bambi, which we covered in episode 23.
Sources:
Watch Bambi on Disney+
Take the Bambi Quiz yourself on Oh My Disney
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Disology 23: Deerly Departed: Grief and Family Trauma in Bambi
Sam and Rachel re-watch and analyze Disney classic animated film, Bambi, in order to see how grief and healing are depicted in the film. Is this film a good conversation starter for children? Too traumatizing? Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think!
Sources:
Bambi: How Disney Plays with Nature | Big Joel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPEhOXEsIYQ
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Disology 21: The Rainbow Fish-boy: Pixar’s Luca as an LGBTQ+ Allegory
Description: Rachel and Sam are joined by Ryan Pagella of The Mutant Ages to discuss the latest Pixar release, Luca, and its interpretation as an allegory for living as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Resources:
Watch Luca on Disney+
How Gay is Pixar’s Luca? By Marissa Martinelli on Slate
Why Pixar is an LGBTQ Love Story (Despite What Pixar Says) by Mitch Brook on Screenrant
Follow Ryan on The Mutant Ages and YouTube.
Disology 20: America: The Theme Park
Description: It starts with a Civil War-themed fireworks show...and then it gets worse. Listen to the fascinating and cringeworthy story of Disney’s America, a never-built theme park in Virginia.
Sources and Further Reading
A Deep Dive Into the Bloody Battle for “Disney’s America,” the Theme Park That Never Was by Drew Taylor on Collider
Disney Plans Theme Park Here by Kirstin Downey Grimsley and Kent Jenkins Jr. in the Washington Post (1993)
Eisner Says Disney Won’t Back Down by William F. Powers in the Washington Post (1994)
Celebration School Not a Celebration for Disney by Disology
Falcon and the Winter Soldier: American Values, American Heroes by Disology
The Spectrum of Pocahontas Emotions: Portrayals of Native Americans in Disney Animation by Disology
Leave us a rating and review and watch our live show at 9 pm EST, July 13th 2021 on Facebook Live. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
From Popcorn to Pandoran Cheesecake: The History of Disney Foodie Culture
Rachel and Sam are joined by Chris Ilardi of Disney Done Differently to discuss the fascinating history of foodie culture, how it intersects with the history of Disney food, and how Disney food has evolved with the times. We also talk about the increased awareness of issues like food cultural appropriation and dietary restrictions, and how they have affected Disney food options. Plus, Chris shares some little-known Disney food facts!
Sources:
The Evolution of American Foodie Culture by Christopher C. Gorham at We’re History
C is for Colonialism’s Effect on How and What We Eat by Coral Lee at Food 52
Listen to Disology Episode 6 for more information on cultural appropriation
How Disney Went from Serving Theme Park Food to Haute Cuisine by Theme Park Tourist
Dining at Disney Parks has Evolved in the Age of Instagram by Michelle Baran at Travel Weekly
Enjoy the audio from our Facebook Live on April 20, 2021 as we reviewed some Disney nature documentaries and had a different kind of Disney fun- this is Disology after all!
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Disology 17: Celebration School not a Celebration for Disney
Sam and Rachel discuss the failed Disney innovative school in Celebration. Listen to hear how it all got started and how it came to an end for the Walt Disney company.
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Disology 16: Disology Book Club: City of Villains by Estelle Laure
Sam and Rachel sit down with Estelle Laure, author of the Disney-Hyperion novel City of Villains, for our first installment of the Disology Book Club. We talk about the book’s origins, what it’s like to work with Disney as an author, and what’s next for protagonist Mary Elizabeth Heart and her Legacy family.
Find Estelle Laure on her website, Instagram, and Twitter.
Purchase your copy of City of Villains
Disology 15: Falcon and the Winter Soldier: American Values, American Heroes
Sam and Rachel are joined by veterans Ashley Lytch and Keith Clark as they tackle the veteran and societal issues presented in Marvel's Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
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Disology 13.5: Use the Force, Comrade: Communism and Star Wars- Live Show
Listen in as Sam, Rachel and special guest Will elaborate on Star Wars and communism from Disology Episode 13 and play a trivia game with Sam!
Disology 14: A Legacy of Lemmings: How Walt Disney Invented the Nature Documentary
Rachel takes Sam through the fascinating and sometimes troubled history of the nature documentary, the legacy of which began with the first “documentary,” Nanook of the North in 1922, was followed by Walt’s True Life Adventure series in the 1950’s, and continues to this day with Disney properties such as DisneyNature and National Geographic.
Sources:
Many of the True Life Adventure films and DisneyNature documentaries are available on Disney+.
Nanook of the North on Wikipedia
The 13 Best Nature Documentaries on Disney+ by Drew Taylor on Vulture
Adventureland (Disney) on Wikipedia
How Natural Are Nature Documentaries? By Elizabeth Lopatto on The Verge
Wildlife Film Ethics on Untamed Science
Disology 13: Use the Force, Comrade!: Communism and Star Wars
Rachel sits down with guest Will Nguyen to discuss communist and socialst interpretations of the Star Wars universe and the history of the franchise.
All Star Wars movies can be viewed on Disney+
Socialism on Wookiepedia
Communists in Star Wars on Wookiepedia
Discussion of Communism in Star Wars on Reddit
Find Will on Twitter @BoomerNiner and Instagram @proletariantrek
If you’re interested in getting involved or learning more about socialism, check out Marxist.com or SocialistRevolution.org
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Music Credit: Zen_Man from Pixabay