The Dark Side of Mickey Mouse

Summary

This video explores the dark side of Mickey Mouse, tracing his origins from a character in minstrel shows to his impact on American copyright law. It also delves into Disney's controversial history, including alleged animal abuse and a mysterious disappearance on a Disney cruise ship, questioning whether Mickey truly represents the 'happiest place on Earth.'

Takeaways

• 🎬 The slogan 'the happiest place on Earth' is associated with Disney theme parks and their brand, but the reality behind the company and its characters might not always reflect this image.
• 🐰 Disney's first successful animated character was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, but rights were taken over by distributor Charles Mintz, leading to Disney creating Mickey Mouse.
• 🚂 The idea for Mickey Mouse came to Walt Disney on a train journey, and his wife Lillian suggested the name 'Mickey' instead of 'Mortimer'.
• 🎬 Mickey Mouse's first appearance was in the silent cartoon 'Plane Crazy', but his breakthrough came with 'Steamboat Willie', which utilized sound and became a major hit.
• 👴 Early Mickey Mouse and other early animation characters were influenced by minstrel shows, a form of entertainment with racist roots.
• 👎 The original Mickey Mouse character was mischievous and devious, reflecting some racist stereotypes about black people played up in blackface minstrel shows.
• 📚 Disney has been involved in altering copyright laws, extending the protection period for their works, which has delayed new content from entering the public domain.
• 📉 The Copyright Act of 1976 and the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 were influenced by Disney, extending copyright protections and impacting creativity and the public domain.
• 🐦 Disney has faced criticism for alleged animal abuse, such as the staged scenes in 'White Wilderness' and mistreatment of vultures at Discovery Island.
• 🚢 The disappearance of Rebecca Coriam on a Disney cruise ship raised questions about Disney's transparency and handling of serious incidents, potentially covering up negative events to protect their image.
• 🏰 Disney's proposed theme park in Virginia, which included a recreated Underground Railroad, was scrapped due to controversy, highlighting the company's sometimes problematic approach to historical representation.

Q & A

What slogan is often associated with Disney's theme parks and brand image?

The slogan 'the happiest place on Earth' is often associated with Disney's theme parks and brand image, promising smiles, sunshine, and cheeriness.

What was the inspiration behind the creation of Mickey Mouse?

The inspiration for Mickey Mouse came to Walt Disney on a cross-country train from Manhattan to Los Angeles. He initially wanted to name the character Mortimer, but his wife Lillian suggested the name Mickey.

What was Mickey Mouse's first appearance in and what was the significance of the film?

Mickey Mouse's first appearance was in the silent cartoon 'Plane Crazy' in 1928. However, his big hit came with 'Steamboat Willie', which utilized sound and was a sensational hit, leading to the birth of one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world.

How has the legacy of Mickey Mouse impacted American copyright law?

The legacy of Mickey Mouse has impacted American copyright law by leading to extensions in copyright protections. Disney Corporation lobbied to change copyright laws with the Copyright Act of 1976 and the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, extending corporate copyright protections from 56 to 95 years.

What is the connection between Mickey Mouse and Minstrel shows?

According to Professor Nicholas Salmon, Mickey Mouse and other early animation characters were in themselves minstrels. The cartoon structures mimic the structure of minstrel shows with music, dance, and humor, and the characteristics of the characters stemmed from racist practices.

What was the controversy surrounding the 1958 Disney film 'White Wilderness'?

The controversy surrounding 'White Wilderness' was that the film falsely depicted lemmings jumping off cliffs to their death in mass suicide. This was later revealed to be staged, with lemmings being thrown or pushed off a cliff for the film.

What is the significance of the Rebecca Coriam case in relation to Disney?

The Rebecca Coriam case is significant as it raised questions about Disney's transparency and handling of incidents. Coriam disappeared from a Disney cruise ship, and her family claimed that Disney was not fully transparent about all they knew of her disappearance, potentially covering up details to protect their brand.

How has the popularity of Mickey Mouse helped Disney shield from criticism?

The immense popularity of Mickey Mouse has helped Disney maintain an image of being 'the happiest place on Earth', which in turn has shielded them from valid criticism of their actions over the years, such as missing person cases, animal abuse, and allegations of racism.

What was the proposed theme park by Disney in Virginia that was eventually scrapped?

The proposed theme park in Virginia was to be based around times in American history, particularly the Civil War era, including battle reenactments and a Civil War era Village. One of the proposed attractions was a recreated Underground Railroad. The project was scrapped less than a year after its announcement.

What impact have the extensions to copyright laws, led by Disney, had on creativity and the public domain?

The extensions to copyright laws have stifled creativity by preventing new content from entering the public domain for 21 years. This has also kept many literary works out of the public domain, preventing them from being republished except by those who own the copyright, thus not benefiting the public or individual artists.