On Disney

This critical examination of the Disney empire offers a sophisticated analysis that moves beyond simple celebration or condemnation, unpacking the complex cultural machinery behind the global entertainment powerhouse. The collection brings together European scholars to dissect Disney's unique position straddling traditionalism and modernism, exploring how the company has maintained commercial dominance while adapting to shifting social discourses and technological revolutions. Rather than treating Disney as mere entertainment, the volume approaches it as a sophisticated aesthetic program with significant ideological underpinnings that demand serious academic scrutiny.

What makes this analysis particularly compelling is its multinational European perspective, which provides crucial distance from American cultural assumptions that often dominate Disney scholarship. The contributors tackle the inherent contradictions of Disney's global reach—how productions can simultaneously embody conservative values while pioneering technical innovation, and why these very tensions have fueled both commercial success and persistent criticism. Readers seeking to understand Disney as a cultural force rather than just a content producer will find this critical framework invaluable for decoding the hidden ideologies in seemingly innocent entertainment.