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The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Earth and Mineral Sciences DECONSTRUCTING THE MYTH OF CALIFORNIA: GENDER AND RACE IN DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE A Thesis in Geography by Marina R. Viola 2009 Marina R. Viola Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science December 2009 The thesis of Marina R. Viola was reviewed and approved* by the following: Lorraine Dowler Associate Professor of Geography and Women‘s Studies Thesis Advisor Melissa W. Wright Associate Professor of Geography and Women‘s Studies Karl Zimmerer Professor of Geography Head of the Department of Geography *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School ABSTRACT Disney turns fantasy into reality. ―Imagineers‖ are Disney‘s team of dream makers responsible for creating the magic. Nearly one dozen international theme parks, a cruise ship line, shopping centers, hotels and ownership of the community Celebration, Florida attest to Imagineering‘s cultural influence and success. This vast and variant space along with widely recognized topographic neologisms such as ―Disneyscapes,‖ and ―Disneyfied,‖ illustrate the Company‘s ability to transform ordinary landscapes into fantasy-scapes. In 2001, Disney deviated from its traditional Imagineering practices and attempted to re-recreate reality. Disney‘s California Adventure park opened as a celebration of the Golden State and the Golden Dreams that brought countless individuals in search of opportunity. Using qualitative methods, this study textually analyses the stories conveyed throughout the park‘s artwork, architecture, landscape and iconography. This thesis reveals that the lives and ―dreams‖ of various California subcultures are represented in demeaning and stereotypical manners that reinforce the superiority and dominance of white males over California‘s landscape. Based on renovations taking place since 2007, I suggest that what was claimed to be a ―celebration‖ of California has become a strategic way for Disney to assert its influence over California‘s landscape, as the sole celebrated story and dream conveyed in California Adventure is currently of the successful life of Walt Disney. Keywords: California Adventure, Walt Disney Company, theme parks,, textual analysis, constructed landscapes iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... ix 1. Representing California ....................................................................................... 1 1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Thesis Question .......................................................................................... 4 1.3 Need for the Study ...................................................................................... 5 1.4 Methods ...................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Park Backstory ............................................................................................ 7 1.6 Park Description ......................................................................................... 12 1.6.1 Sunshine Plaza .................................................................................. 12 1.6.2 Hollywood Pictures Backlot .............................................................. 13 1.6.3 A Bug‘s Land .................................................................................... 15 1.6.4 Golden State ..................................................................................... 17 1.6.5 Paradise Pier ..................................................................................... 20 1.7 Thesis Organization .................................................................................... 22 2. Literature Review ................................................................................................ 23 2.1 Cultural and Landscape Theory ................................................................... 23 2.2 Gender and Race ......................................................................................... 26 2.3 Visual Culture ............................................................................................. 31 2.4 Disney and Identity ..................................................................................... 35 2.5 Summary .................................................................................................... 41 3. Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and A Bug‘s Land ......................... 42 3.1 Sunshine Plaza ............................................................................................ 42 3.1.1 California‘s Disney Adventure .......................................................... 47 3.2 Hollywood Pictures Backlot ........................................................................ 49 3.3 A Bug‘s Land ............................................................................................. 51 3.3.1 Bountiful Valley Farm ...................................................................... 51 3.4 Summary .................................................................................................... 53 4. Golden State ........................................................................................................ 55 4.1 Golden Dreams movie ................................................................................ 55 4.2 Golden Dreams Mural ................................................................................. 63 iv 4.2.1 On Califia‘s Disappearance ............................................................... 70 4.3 Ahwahnee Camp Circle .............................................................................. 71 4.4 Aviators and Aviatrixes .............................................................................. 77 4.5 Summary .................................................................................................... 79 5. Paradise Pier ........................................................................................................ 81 5.1 Eureka! A California Adventure Parade ...................................................... 81 5.2 Food Production ......................................................................................... 88 5.2.1 Mission Tortilla Factory .................................................................... 89 5.2.2 Boudin Bakery .................................................................................. 92 5.2.3 Paradise Pier Restaurants .................................................................. 94 5.3 Paradise Pier Advertisements ...................................................................... 96 5.4 Mulholland and Cars ................................................................................... 98 5.5 Summary .................................................................................................... 99 6. Conclusion........................................................................................................... 100 6.1 Statement of Analysis ................................................................................. 100 6.2 Discussion .................................................................................................. 101 6.3 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 102 References ............................................................................................................... 1005 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1: Map of Disney‘s California Adventure ................................................. 11 Figure 1-2: Left side of Disney‘s California Adventure entry corridor..................... 13 Figure 1-3: Entrance to Hollywood Pictures Backlot. .............................................. 15 Figure 1-4: Entrance to A Bug‘s Land. ................................................................... 16 Figure 1-5: Grizzly Peak in Golden State. ............................................................... 19 Figure 1-6: Paradise Pier. ........................................................................................ 21 Figure 3-1: The sun icon. ........................................................................................ 43 Figure 3-2: Concept artwork for remodeled Sunshine Plaza. ................................... 48 Figure 3-3: Hollywood‘s leading lady. .................................................................... 50 Figure 3-4: Hollywood‘s leading man. .................................................................... 50 Figure 3-5: Field workers and farmers. ................................................................... 52 Figure 4-1: Golden Dreams Mural. ......................................................................... 64 Figure 4-2: Catala (bullfish) wood carving at Ahwahnee Camp Circle. ................... 72 Figure 4-3: Catala (bullfish) legend at Ahwahnee Camp Circle. .............................. 72 Figure 4-4: Members of the Grizzly River Rafting Company. ................................. 76 Figure 5-1: Montage of Eureka figures in Eureka! A California Adventure parade. .............................................................................................................