Page 60 - The Disneyization of Society

THEMING

• American criminal justice In an article specifically concerned with Disneyization that drew on
my early exposition of the concept, Robinson argues that American criminal justice is
themed. However, Robinson argues that the process of theming is carried out predominantly 51
by the mass media. He suggests that the mass media identify issues and crises in connection
with crime and this process influences the issues that leaders and American citizens will be
concerned about. Robinson regards this as a form of theming, one which has implications
for the perceptions of the operation of the criminal justice system. He draws particular atten-
tion to corporate and white-collar crimes which are prevalent but largely ignored, in com-
parison to spectacular but relatively unusual crimes which receive widespread attention. 145

• Health clubs One chain of British health clubs has been described by an investment
magazine as ‘offering customers a range of themed zones designed to create a unique
environment offering fun and entertainment’. 146
• Health-care facilities Baldwin describes a facility in New Canaan, Connecticut, for people
with memory loss that has a reproduction Main Street ‘based on the way downtown New
Canaan looked 40 years ago’. Apparently, the design team worked with photographs of
1950s New Canaan, as well as of reproduced streets in shopping malls and Disney World.
She goes on to write that: ‘Recognizing that people who can’t remember what they were
doing moments before nonetheless can unearth memories of life 30 years earlier, senior
care centers from Australia to Manhattan are relying on settings laden with nostalgic cues,
hoping to get patients talking in what are called reminiscence groups’. 147
• Casinos As the discussion of the elaborately themed hotels in Las Vegas suggests, these hotels
are in fact casinos. Whether they are themed hotels with casinos or themed casinos with
hotels is a moot point, though given the centrality of gambling to the city one suspects the
second is the more accurate description. Nonetheless, the hotel-casinos in Las Vegas entail
intricate theming in terms of the various narratives found in the hotels. Moreover, this
predilection for themed casinos is spreading. Following the anticipated deregulation of gam-
bling in Britain, Blackpool, a popular seaside destination similarly famed for its hedonism and
attractions, is likely to attract a themed hotel-casino along Las Vegas lines. Several casino
resorts are planned along the town’s famed Golden Mile, including Pharaoh’s Palace, an
Egyptian themed hotel-casino complete with the usual symbols of Ancient Egypt. 148

• Cruise ships Ritzer and Liska suggest that cruise ships are increasingly becoming
themed 149 and Wood has argued that fantasy theming and simulation are common on
many cruise ships. 150 Sometimes, the ships have an overall theme, such as Carnival’s
Fascination, which is themed in terms of Hollywood, or Disney Magic which is largely
themed on Disney itself. In addition, there are often themed areas influenced by motifs
such as nationality. Disney Magic has a themed Beat Street entertainment area, which
has dance and comedy clubs and a piano lounge. 151
• Events Club Disney playsites designed by Disney for young children, not only have
themed play-areas, but also themed birthday parties, such as 101 Dalmations Bow-wow
Bash and Toy Story Search Party. 152

• University accommodation Ritzer notes that some American universities have introduced
themed dormitories to cater for students with similar interests. 153