Priscilla Hobbs
Ever since the premiere for the first Mickey Mouse cartoon in 1928, Disney has played a central role in American popular culture, which has progressively expanded to involve a global market. The company positioned itself to have a central role in family entertainment, and many of its offerings - from films to consumable products - have deeply embedded themselves into not only the imaginations of children and adults, but also into the threads of many of our life experiences. It is difficult to go through life without encountering a Disney product. Because of this, fans of Disney build connections with their favourite characters and franchises, some of which are fuelled further by Disney’s marketing practice. Other fans have developed a near-cult-like approach to their love of Disney, equating the products with religious icons and visits to their theme parks with pilgrimages. This volume looks beyond the films and shows, products and places, into the very heart of the Disney phenomenon: the fan response that drives the corporation’s massive marketing machine, and how the corporate response has shaped the fan experience. The interconnectedness between Disney and its fans highlights a deep relationship that merits further exploration and understanding, proving that the imagination and dreams at the very heart of the human experience can also wear mouse ears.
