Cars

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by mousepod

I hear what you're saying, CP (I guess we just hijacked the thread).

Well, seems the reviews have died down.

She asked me to compare Disney parks to Las Vegas. I said that they're essentially the same, except that Disney parks profit from people's laughter and Vegas profits from people's tears.

Devil's Advocate: Disney profits from jacking up food prices while you are on their property. The cost of admission is astronomical compared to the admission 20 years ago when adjusted for inflation. Disney parks are a cultural icon and they are fully aware of this, and hold the magical memories hostage for profit. People dish it out because it's DL. So many families can't afford to go. Yadda yadda.

I can come up with an argument against many different kinds of entertainment that others may find appealing.

I understand the lure of NASCAR. However, the part of the psyche that it seems to appeal to grosses me out.

I repeat that I'm not a NASCAR fan but having grown up watching tractor pulls, all kinds of quarter mile (funny car etc) and monster truck rallies, I dig the concepts behind racing of all kinds. Powerful, precision machinery, at the hands of experts, performing incredible feats.

If by "psyche" you're talking about beer hats, painted chests, mullets, rivalries...then I refer you to any other event where people get into it. I'd say staking out a fireworks spot for hours beforehand, wearing a Mickey hoodie and eating a Mickey pretzel, heatedly discussing the Haunted Mansion changes for half an hour, then going wild when Tink appears and singing along with the music is the same thing.

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

If by "psyche" you're talking about beer hats, painted chests, mullets, rivalries...then I refer you to any other event where people get into it. I'd say staking out a fireworks spot for hours beforehand, wearing a Mickey hoodie and eating a Mickey pretzel, heatedly discussing the Haunted Mansion changes for half an hour, then going wild when Tink appears and singing along with the music is the same thing.

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.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by mousepod

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.

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

In fact, "bloodlust and euphoria" can be applied to any competitive event, from Connect Four with your sibling to bullfighting.

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.