Wallace, Section II Review

In Section II, Wallace again goes after Walt Disney this time pointing out various attractions throughout his theme parks. It seems that history, at least in part, has become rather commercialized in Disney World. The Carousel of Progress, for example, is basically a walk-in advertisement, subjecting visitors to 80 years of progress sponsored by General Electric. While this might not inspire a child to go out and buy a dishwasher, it does undoubtedly place product labels on influential minds. What is ultimately drawn into question is the role of Disney and its portrayal of history. With such contorted historic displays such as the Hall of Presidents, Main Street, and the aforementioned Carousel of Progress, tied in with the credibility of Disney, what potential harm is there in a theme park representing history? Wallace seems to worry Disney's slant on history will become overly influential. I would argue that those most influenced by what Disney "teaches" (I use the term loosely) would simply be offered a brighter side to a nation's past which they learn about every other day in classrooms when they are not on vacation. However, it is important that such mass marketed history be kept in check. General Electric essentially being the poster-child for progression is a bit overstated and contrived. There is certainly some liability for such influential institutions to "teach" history given their impact and accessibility. Still, it likely does not do more harm than good if harnessed responsibly.