Question 8

The documentary “Mouse Trapped 2010” takes on an approach of political economy against Disney, while “Mickey Mouse Monopoly” takes on a critical media approach. In “Mouse Trapped 2010” the documentary argues that the workers of Disney are being treated unfairly and not earning fair wages. In the film, one of the interviewees talks about how Central Florida uses Disney as a barometer for what to pay their workers. Therefore, Disney holds the power over payment of the workers, and the jobs are so competitive that they can easily replace workers. This takes on the political economy approach. “Mickey Mouse Monopoly” on the other hand, talks about how Disney is so powerfully influencing culture through stereotypes such as racism and gender roles. It talks about how all the females are depicted as seducing males in order to achieve something. This is along the lines of Grossberg’s article who claims that cultural studies, “power often works through strategies and apparatuses of which people are totally unaware.” In this case it is the implications subtly made through the films.