Page 141 - The Disneyization of Society

THE DISNEYIZATION OF SOCIETY

relevant to Disneyization as well, and in this chapter I will outline the ways in
which it is an enabling feature of Disneyization too. Clearly, this is an area where
132 Disneyization and McDonaldization overlap and indeed, the Disney theme parks
exhibit aspects of control in the sense in which Ritzer employs the term, as do
theme parks more generally. 2
While control and surveillance are analytically distinguishable, in the contexts
in which they occur in Disneyization they shade into each other. Surveillance can
be a means of checking that control procedures are working as well as being a
control device in its own right. It will, therefore, be covered in tandem with the
discussion of control.
However, it is crucial that we do not end up with an overly pessimistic and
deterministic picture of control under Disneyization. In fact, resistance frequently
occurs and in this chapter such strategies of independence will be addressed,
particularly in the context of the world of work where the evidence is especially
striking. Such a discussion will be an important corrective to any implication that
simply because control systems are in place they are necessarily effective and total
in their impacts.

Control at the Disney Theme Parks

In this section, I will address the ways in which control can be seen to be an
important feature, albeit an enabling one, at the Disney theme parks. Both
Bryman and Wasko have found it useful to distinguish between six different
levels of control and the discussion that follows will draw on the distinctions that
these authors employ. A seventh level of control has been added – control over
3
visitors’ behaviour – to provide a more complete account, particularly in the context
of the wider ramifications of Disneyization. These seven levels of control differ in
their relevance to the broader issues to do with Disneyization that will be tackled
later in the chapter, but are presented for completeness and to give an impression
of what the Disney theme parks are like.

Control over visitors’ behaviour

In the Disney theme parks a high level of control is achieved over the movement
and behaviour of guests. Control is achieved prior to entry to a park in a similar
fashion to the way in which Disney theme park employees have to bear certain
characteristics before being hired. For one thing, visitors must not be barefoot or be
otherwise inappropriately attired, for example by not wearing a top. Once in the
park, these norms of visitor appearance are similarly policed, as the vignette later
in this section testifies. However, Disney has a further method of control in the
form of the relatively high cost of admission which ensures that only visitors with