For what it's worth, I'm enjoying their "Moon Knight" series and am looking forward to the Obi-Wan Kenobi followup in a month or so.
As far as Disney's morals, anyone who followed the copyright wars of the late '90s knows all about Disney and it's revenue-maximizing behavior. If people don't like it - such as the commenters over at The American Conservative complaining about increased representation of non-cisgender identities being indistinguishable from grooming children for sexual abuse - we have a solution in the market: start or support a studio that reflects your values. As you rightfully point out, Disney's political stances are driven by activists (creatives) within the company who threatened to leave if the company didn't take a stance and their pressure succeeded. This succeeds because progressive creatives have places they can defect to and ply their trade elsewhere.
Conservatives within Disney have no similar exits (yet), so any pressure that they try to exert to counterbalance the progressives is ignored. There are no (current) conservative studios with content that comes anywhere close to competing with Disney. So conservative dissenters can either grin and bear it or find another line of work. So, just as important it is for another studio to offer conservative alternatives to the media-consuming market, the presence of an conservative studio also provides a path for conservative creative talent to push from their perspectives, and if that fails, head elsewhere to put their skills to use.
I don't have a lot of respect for Ben Shapiro and the folks at the Daily Wire as political commentators, but I do have to salute them for recognizing this issue and starting to stand up alternative conservative studios both the produce content for a conservative market, BUT ALSO to provide a working environment for conservative creatives. After Gina Carano was drummed out of Star Wars, she found employment with Shapiro's folks making a new movie. Earlier this week, the same folks announced a $100 million investment in creating children's programming[1].
I'm usually on the opposite side of Shapiro and his folks when it comes to cultural issues, but it's extremely refreshing to see him start to compete in the cultural arena instead of just complaining about it. Given how prevalent the "woke" stuff is, I won't be surprised if he also manages to catch a decent counter-cultural current in the process. So, if you think Disney's being evil (either for being woke or greedy) and want to do something about it, demand alternative content, support it when it becomes available, and consider encouraging conservative kids to get into culture-generating enterprises to carry their values through into media products. And if you're producing that content - for the love of all you care about - QUIT adapting "Atlas Shrugged" and tell some compelling and interesting stories for a change.
Omg. This is drama queen material IMO. Disney “wicked?” 🙄 you sound like my mom in the 90’s when they came out with Lion King. Bob Wildmon on steroids.
And why are the primary users of the word “woke” middle aged white conservative men and women? It’s become an umbrella epithet for everything they don’t like. And it’s annoying like nails on a chalkboard.
This read like a word salad of facts about Disney’s business culture and history, mixed with constant uses of party names, the word “woke,” and accusing it of loving only money.
It’s behavior is almost exactly like every other free company in the world. Is capitalism wickedness? Is it necessary to bodyslam an American institution in the name of…. Not even sure what the point was. Just calling something wicked? Then so is Amazon. So is foxNews. So is Coca Cola. So is Proctor & Gamble. And we’re all “wicked” for buying it. Hell, call me “woke” for it, cuz… I don’t know why, since “woke” has come to mean virtually anything.
I’m so tired of the hyper dramatic labeling and abuse of the word “woke.”
All: I never once used the word “evil.” I don’t think Disney has evil intent. At worst they are amoral. Wickedness is a term of actions, evil a term of moral agency and intent. Disney doesn’t intend to harm anyone, just enrich itself. But when dealing with truly evil regimes, that leads to wickedness. Some out there have your triggers filed down so much that you already know what I’ve written before you read it just by reading the headline. But that’s not at all what I wrote. I am a Disneyphile. I like their offerings for the most part and call out when I don’t. But any moral stance you see from Disney is no more real than Cinderella’s Castle viewed from Main Street. What’s real is the money.
Why limit this to Disney? We can point to any number of corporations that also prioritize profit over all other concerns, with political bend towards either side of the aisle.
I can't even be mad. At this point I just feel sorry for you. The whining in this article is pathetic. And the realization that corporations are evil and wicked should make Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren happy. Why does being a conservative rot so many brains?
A neighbor was in a management position with Disney in Florida. He confirmed what you said about politics in Orange County. He is totally unwoke. That's probably why he retired to NE Georgia.
For what it's worth, I'm enjoying their "Moon Knight" series and am looking forward to the Obi-Wan Kenobi followup in a month or so.
As far as Disney's morals, anyone who followed the copyright wars of the late '90s knows all about Disney and it's revenue-maximizing behavior. If people don't like it - such as the commenters over at The American Conservative complaining about increased representation of non-cisgender identities being indistinguishable from grooming children for sexual abuse - we have a solution in the market: start or support a studio that reflects your values. As you rightfully point out, Disney's political stances are driven by activists (creatives) within the company who threatened to leave if the company didn't take a stance and their pressure succeeded. This succeeds because progressive creatives have places they can defect to and ply their trade elsewhere.
Conservatives within Disney have no similar exits (yet), so any pressure that they try to exert to counterbalance the progressives is ignored. There are no (current) conservative studios with content that comes anywhere close to competing with Disney. So conservative dissenters can either grin and bear it or find another line of work. So, just as important it is for another studio to offer conservative alternatives to the media-consuming market, the presence of an conservative studio also provides a path for conservative creative talent to push from their perspectives, and if that fails, head elsewhere to put their skills to use.
I don't have a lot of respect for Ben Shapiro and the folks at the Daily Wire as political commentators, but I do have to salute them for recognizing this issue and starting to stand up alternative conservative studios both the produce content for a conservative market, BUT ALSO to provide a working environment for conservative creatives. After Gina Carano was drummed out of Star Wars, she found employment with Shapiro's folks making a new movie. Earlier this week, the same folks announced a $100 million investment in creating children's programming[1].
I'm usually on the opposite side of Shapiro and his folks when it comes to cultural issues, but it's extremely refreshing to see him start to compete in the cultural arena instead of just complaining about it. Given how prevalent the "woke" stuff is, I won't be surprised if he also manages to catch a decent counter-cultural current in the process. So, if you think Disney's being evil (either for being woke or greedy) and want to do something about it, demand alternative content, support it when it becomes available, and consider encouraging conservative kids to get into culture-generating enterprises to carry their values through into media products. And if you're producing that content - for the love of all you care about - QUIT adapting "Atlas Shrugged" and tell some compelling and interesting stories for a change.
(Rant finished.)
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/03/31/daily-wire-kids/
Omg. This is drama queen material IMO. Disney “wicked?” 🙄 you sound like my mom in the 90’s when they came out with Lion King. Bob Wildmon on steroids.
And why are the primary users of the word “woke” middle aged white conservative men and women? It’s become an umbrella epithet for everything they don’t like. And it’s annoying like nails on a chalkboard.
This read like a word salad of facts about Disney’s business culture and history, mixed with constant uses of party names, the word “woke,” and accusing it of loving only money.
It’s behavior is almost exactly like every other free company in the world. Is capitalism wickedness? Is it necessary to bodyslam an American institution in the name of…. Not even sure what the point was. Just calling something wicked? Then so is Amazon. So is foxNews. So is Coca Cola. So is Proctor & Gamble. And we’re all “wicked” for buying it. Hell, call me “woke” for it, cuz… I don’t know why, since “woke” has come to mean virtually anything.
I’m so tired of the hyper dramatic labeling and abuse of the word “woke.”
Ok, I’m done. lol
All: I never once used the word “evil.” I don’t think Disney has evil intent. At worst they are amoral. Wickedness is a term of actions, evil a term of moral agency and intent. Disney doesn’t intend to harm anyone, just enrich itself. But when dealing with truly evil regimes, that leads to wickedness. Some out there have your triggers filed down so much that you already know what I’ve written before you read it just by reading the headline. But that’s not at all what I wrote. I am a Disneyphile. I like their offerings for the most part and call out when I don’t. But any moral stance you see from Disney is no more real than Cinderella’s Castle viewed from Main Street. What’s real is the money.
Why limit this to Disney? We can point to any number of corporations that also prioritize profit over all other concerns, with political bend towards either side of the aisle.
I can't even be mad. At this point I just feel sorry for you. The whining in this article is pathetic. And the realization that corporations are evil and wicked should make Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren happy. Why does being a conservative rot so many brains?
A neighbor was in a management position with Disney in Florida. He confirmed what you said about politics in Orange County. He is totally unwoke. That's probably why he retired to NE Georgia.
Just a note, but it's Bob Chapek now, not Iger.