Portraits of Propaganda

Disney has recently completed a video to be used by the Department of State to welcome foreign visitors to the U.S. It is called, "Welcome: Portraits of America" and will be played in the customs area of airports around the nation.

You can view the seven-minute video at the U.S. Department of State travel site.

Disney has used a remix of the Illuminations fireworks soundtrack, which I love so dearly. They could attach this music to a video about the benefits of murdering puppies, and I'd be like, "Yeah! Kill the puppies!" So it's a nice piece of propaganda.

Mike and Mark's Response

Snow White

Over the past few weeks I have become infatuated with Snow White. My new goal in life is to be her at Disney World.

Snow White is set apart from other Disney "princesses" by her childlike and innocent qualities. She is quite a moffet, which is apparently a word I've made up that means "unkempt child" or "orphan." I feel Snow White can make mistakes, while Aurora and Cinderella have larger burdens to bear on their heads (like their crowns). They're practically perfect in every way, the princess ideal. I prefer the subtle incongruousness of Snow White.

Mousercise!

Fuck, I used to watch this before school when I was four or five!
I totally remember it, including the fast nutrition facts that began with the jingle, "Did you know?"

This is obviously the reason I love to dance.

The MousePlanet Podcast

Okay, another piece of Disneyana that makes me very happy is the MousePlanet podcast, confusingly called "MouseStation." It has only been in the past few days that I have become obsessed with this Disney news and discussion show. It's hosted by MousePlanet editor and columnist Mark Goldhaber and "former Disney cast member" Mike Demopoulos.

It goes without saying that Mark and Mike know what they're talking about when it comes to Disneyland and Disney World. As voice actors, neither is too dynamic, but the awkward banter is part of their charm. And lord knows I giggle whenever Mike yells "MouseStation! Featured! Topic!"

Truth be told, I find them hilarious -- and I often imagine myself co-hosting with them. I think my laughter in the background would be a welcome addition!

Do the Hustle-tini with Mike and Mark at MouseFest this December!

Mary Blair

The only thing that makes me happy anymore is Disneyana.

Like Mary Blair, who designed a lot of concept art for early Disney films (Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Peter Pan), as well as several murals in Disneyland and Disney World, and the It's a Small World ride.
There's a new children's picture book showcasing Blair's concept art for Cinderella. Jim Hill's posted an article on it here.


The only mural I've ever seen with my own two eyes is the one in the Contemporary Resort at Disney World (see below). The two Mary Blair murals in Disneyland have been covered up for a decade or two -- see this Yesterland article.

(See more photos of the Grand Canyon Concourse mural here.)

Mary Blair's murals are fascinating for their comments on community and the future. The two 1967 murals in Disneyland are collectively titled "The Spirit of Creative Energies Among Children." The North mural features joyful children from around the world frolicking under colorful satellites and ribbons of communication, insinuating that global communications will bring the peoples of the world closer. The South mural portrays basic forms of energy -- wind, solar, fire, water -- in reference to the harnessing of natural power for human needs.

Themes of global community and communication are popular in Disney's various Tomorrowlands. Disney is all about hope for the future.

I dream about seeing it all again. It's perhaps the one thing I look forward to.