My Disney Class!!!

[tsom]

This semester, one of the classes I'm taking is called "Disney & Children's Lit." I decided to register for it just for fun. Only a handful of students know this class is being offered. Everyone I've told about it says "Disney? Like in the cartoons? There's a class here like that?"

Anyway, today was the first day of the class, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It seems to be so much fun, and the professor is so into it and always spitting out all these facts about the company and the films. Today, we talked about Mickey Mouse, Hidden Mickeys in films, Disney Princesses, Hannah Montana, and how Disney is always making more money by releasing films from video, to one disc dvd, then to two disc dvds and how those 2 disc dvds are always treated as if they were being released for the first time. We also watched Fantasia and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and talked about use of color, shadow, etc. Apparently, blue symbolizes good in Disney movies and purple & red signifies evil. Also, the magican in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is called Yen Sid, which is DISNEY spelt backwards.

Looking at the syllabus, we will be looking at the early years (from Alice to Mickey), viewing The Silly Symphonies, reading the Grimm version of Snow White, then watching the Disney version, reading thr Perrault and Grimm version of Cinderella then watching the Disney version, watching The Three Caballeros, reading Tales of Uncle Remus, watching Song of the South, reading the first Mary Poppins book, watching Mary Poppins (although she will fast forward through it), reading Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, watching The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, reading the de Beaumont version of Beauty and the Beast, watching the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast, lecture on CGI and Pixar, and lastly, lecture on the controversies and images of sex and race in Disney films using Fantasia, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Mulan, and Pocahontas.

So, I'm sure it's going to be very exciting. I'll keep you guys updated!

[Mooky]

That sounds so exciting I wish we had classes like that here

[blackcauldron85]

I am beyond jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I definitely wish we had a Disney class...I would've majored in Disney if there was a school that offered that.

It sounds like the best class ever, and I hope you have fun!!!

[wrestling_stat]

That sounds that an awesome class. I wish we have that at my university.

[Disney Lover]

What school do you go to? My university has a class called that. But it was all filled up when I went to go and sign up for classes. It would be amusing if we go to the same school! You don't happen to go to UNCC do you?

[Disney Duster]

Wow, I'm, glad you get to take this class. I can't believe you only said registered it "for fun". I mean...I thought Disney was more than just "fun" to you.

Anyway, can you ask your teacher about something? Okay, well in Snow White the prince has Blue and Snow White have blue but they also have red, mainly in their capes. In Sleeping Beauty, the prince has red, mainly in his cape and hat, and then wears some blue at the end. Finally, in Cinderella, the prince has red, on his pants. The blue light shed on him and Cinderella turns his pants purple. I decree that red and purple aren't colors of evil, but colors of power, and royalty, in Disney films. Otherwise the princes would seem to be evil. Pink is like the princess's version of red, I guess, though Snow White has some in her bow and puffy sleeves. Aurora's bodice looks kind of red, further suggesting pink is like their red.

[Flanger-Hanger]

The Blue/Red thing was something I only ever heard of for Aladdin. Don't forget Jaq wears red and so does Bernard and other characters who certainly aren't evil.

[drfsupercenter]

We have a class called Film As Literature which I'm taking this year (due to a stupid state law, school can't start until after Labor Day)

It's not Disney-oriented at all, but a few Disney films are on the list, such as Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.

The class is basically watching movies (from old to new) and discussing what makes them good/classic. Why are films like BatB/TLK so good while lots of other animated films go unnoticed? Etc. I'll let you know what my teacher says about those films when we get to them... but since they're relatively new in the timeline of movies, it'll probably be toward the end of the semester in January.

[xxhplinkxx]

Anyway, today was the first day of the class, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It seems to be so much fun, and the professor is so into it and always spitting out all these facts about the company and the films. Today, we talked about Mickey Mouse, Hidden Mickeys in films, Disney Princesses, Hannah Montana, and how Disney is always making more money by releasing films from video, to one disc dvd, then to two disc dvds and how those 2 disc dvds are always treated as if they were being released for the first time. We also watched Fantasia and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and talked about use of color, shadow, etc. Apparently, blue symbolizes good in Disney movies and purple & red signifies evil. Also, the magican in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is called Yen Sid, which is DISNEY spelt backwards.

I knew all this from reading trivia on IMDb.

Either way, it sounds like it would be a fun class to take.

[tsom]

I sincerly wish everyone on this site could take the class. You all would LOVE it.

What I meant by taking it for "fun" is that it wouldn't be a class anyone in my major would take. People in the class are either English majors, elementary education majors, Children's Lit minors, theater majors or minors, or American Studies minor. My friend and I are the only ones (that we know of) in our specific majors. Also, I wanted a "light" class this semester, and this seems like the perfect kind. The class has maybe about 120 people, and it's listed under English and American Studies.

The professor grew up watching Disney, and she's even written a book about it. She even told us when she wanted some specific info about Winnie-the-Pooh for her book, she called up the company, and they were so secretive about their work and stuff like that. Also, the prof seems to have connections with the company or with people in the company.

Today, we talked about Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney himself, Roy Disney, Lillian Disney, Charles Mintz, the "Alice" cartoon series, and Oswald the Funny Rabbit. She talked about the development of Mickey Mouse and how that came about, and how he was originally suppose to be called "Mortimer Mouse," and Disney's wife said the name Mortimer sounds too cocky. We watched two Oswald cartoons, then we watched "Plane Crazy." Next week, we'll watch "Steamboat Wllie" and start on the "Silly Symphonies." There's just so much I didn't know about Walt and the development of his company, and this makes me respect and admire him. Even though having Oswald stolen from him, I think it was a blessing it happened because if it didn't, then we wouldn't have Mickey. So, I guess instead of saying "It all started with a Mouse," I would say "It all started with a Rabbit."

After classes, I'll come back here and tell you guys what we did and keep you all posted.

Oh, and you would think that people would use the class to goof off, but they don't. The students take it seriously, and ask lots of questions. They even loved the Oswald cartoons we watched, and even though class was ending when the Prof put in "Plane Crazy," the students didn't leave until it was over.

[Black pearl]

That is so cool!!!

[Disney Duster]

Oh, well thanks for that.

I'm pleasantly surprised people are taking it seriously. If you think about it, all that stuff actually teaches history.

Any chance you'll ask your professor why she thinks red and purple are always evil but the princes, and Jaq the mouse, have red? I think they can be royal, powerful, or heroic colors in Disney films. Perhaps it's merely an adundance of the color. Like, if you're really red, you're evil, but Snow White only has some red. Still, if it was what I thought, the red on Snow White could represent royalty or power. And blood. I always thought the red drops on her sleeves were for blood, like her mother shed on the snow to say she wanted her daughter to have lips as red as blood. Though the mirror said "red as the rose". Oiy, Disney.

[stlewis75]

If you want to watch a lot of Disney movies in your classes, major in animation. It hardly seems like school at all... and there's no tests.

[daydreamer22010]

wow, i truly wish there was a class offered like this at my university

but lucky you!!!!!!!!!! have fun and keep updating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tsom]

Actually, I think if you look hard, you'll be able to find a few fun classes in your school. Like in my school, these things aren't well-known. You have to hunt for it, and even though the classes fill up, the students don't tell other students about them.

Aside from Disney, "fun" classes we have are walking/jogging, History of Rock and Roll, Pop culture of 1950s, classes on the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, classes about women, masculinity in movies, gays/lesbians, sexuality, African-Americans, oh, and we also have a class on all things related to The Wizard of Oz entitled "Oz: An American Fairytale." There are many other "fun" classes, but I'm too tired right now to list them all. The thing is that you have to hunt for these classes. They are there, but you have to know where to look.

[PeterPanfan]

That "Oz" class sounds really fun!!

[Disney Duster]

Aside from Disney, "fun" classes we have are walking/jogging, History of Rock and Roll, Pop culture of 1950s, classes on the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, classes about women, masculinity in movies, gays/lesbians, sexuality, African-Americans

Wow, I know you put "fun" in quotes but...that you view some of those only as fun...offends me. I mean, learning about gays and lesbians is just fun, not serious? And I certainly wouldn't call it "light" either.

I know you mean no offense, I'm just saying.

[PeterPanfan]

I think what he meant by "fun" was it doesn't count toward a major you're taking, or give you any credits.

[tsom]

Thanks PeterPanfan! The Oz class does sound like fun, but I didn't want to take it because (don't kill me people!) I'm not a fan of Wizard of Oz. I know. I know. The books and the 1939 movie are classics, but I just can't get into the story. I respect their merits and I see why they are great, but I have my reasons not to like them. I like Wicked though, if that counts for anything.

Disney Duster, sorry if I offended you. I didn't mean it like that. What I meant by "fun" is...well, I can't really explain it. To me, a "fun" class is a class where it's mostly discussion (which I like), and it's outside a person's major or it's a class that isn't really required but a person wants to take either because they have an interest in the topic or it's a "light" class compared to other extreme classes like Accounting or Biology. I don't know if I made myself clear, but I hope you get what I mean.

You can get 3 credit hours for these classes. They are mostly under such majors and minors as English, American Studies, Women's Studies, Ethical Issues, and so on.

[tsom]

So, I'm totally loving this class. I didn't get a chance to update yesterday, so I'm going to do it now.

Yesterday, we talked about Disney getting the copyright for Plane Crazy and trademarking Mickey Mouse. Then we talked about how much Mickey and Minnie have changed over the decades. Afterwards, we watched Steamboat Willie and had a discussion about the characters and their personalities.

Then, we talked about the 1940s and how Mickey's popularity started swaying down, and Pluto became more popular than Mickey. It wasn't until Fantasia that Mickey started gaining popularity again. Then we talked about how Fantasia wasn't a success, but Mickey made a comeback. Then, we talked about how Disney hated sequels, and the only one he considered making was a sequel to Fantasia. Someone asked about how come Disney makes sequels now, and the Prof talked about DTVs and Michael Eisner. Then I raised up my hand, and told the Prof how "Cinderella III" was good, and she said she always wanted to see that and she would check it out.

Then we drove into Silly Symphonies, then we stopped. Tomorrow, we will watch "The Three Little Pigs," and start on "Snow White." Our homework (due tomorrow) is to read the 1857 Grimm version of Snow White. How amazingly awesome is that?