By psyche ("the human soul, mind, or spirit"), I'm referring to the part of the human spirit at the heart of the appeal. To me, Disney appeals to happiness, youthful exuberance, creativity, fantasy etc. Whether that has been perverted by the corporation is beside the point to me. That's the part of me that is touched at a Disney park, or talking with people like you.

My perception (and remember, I always personalized the argument - my perception might be totally "wrong" for other people), NASCAR appeals to bloodlust and euphoria (my old shrink used to define euphoria as "an unearned sense of wellbeing"). It's the ugly in "ugly American". And while I've read numerous attacks on Disney Co. that make a similar argument, I have yet to find that feeling in abundance at a Disney park.

First off - I'd refer you to the World Cup to demonstrate that bloodlust and euphoria are not solely American traits.

In fact, "bloodlust and euphoria" can be applied to any competitive event, from Connect Four with your sibling to bullfighting. Winning at chess or a game of pick-up sticks might not induce drunken and disorderly behavior but it still pushes that competitive pleasure center button. I'd apply this to enjoying an action sequence in a movie...or indeed, enjoying when the villian gets their due at the end of any movie.

As for what Disney appeals to - I've written on this before - as you say, it's fantasy. Unreality, escapism...you can see where a naysayer could make this into a negative thing.

I think that like fantasy, competitiveness is neither good nor bad - it's a tool, an mindset that can evoke both positive and negative effects.

NASCAR is hot. Tinkerbell is hot. Fireworks are shiny.

SHINY?! Where?!

NASCAR is not hot. NASCAR drivers are sometimes hot.
:D

But I'm not applying it to any competetive event. I'm applying it to NASCAR.

This tangent started when you compared my being "grossed out" at what I percieved was the message of CARS (before the action moved to Radiator Springs) with my Disney and music appreciation.

I personally am not competetive at all with my Disney or music stuff. In fact, quite the opposite, I try to share those passions with my friends, family and strangers.

If I only watched the first minute of Ferdinand the Bull, I'd have made similar comments.

If you look at what we (you and I) are saying, you'll see that there really isn't any conflict in our theses.

Cool.

Cool. :cool:

That too.

Fast cars are hot. NASCAR cars fast. And shiny. Shiny?! WHERE?!

Agreed!

Isn't Gordon a little too gay for you, SM?

I don't find fast cars hot at all. I find a car that can climb a mountain hot. I find most cars to be a bit lame.

My father in law is a huge racing fan, as he used to race sand buggies, and he's on the crew for a racing baja truck. My mother in law is a huge disney fan, so their interests virtually never cross. He agreed to go to DL with us a few years back on the condition that he could go back to the hotel to watch the races he wanted to watch. He actually enjoyed DCA so much that he never returned for his race. No point to that story except that racing's got nothin on DL. :p