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The link above contains our elevator pitch…. not the Willy Wonka video. That’s for my own personal enjoyment.

-Lexie Marotta, Nick Larimer, Alison Kuznitz, Nick Karafilis

So, during my discussion with Dr. O’Hara this week, we took a much deeper look at my previous blog post which contained my outline for both my TED Talk and my paradigm shift essay. We both think that it would be of better interest to slightly shift the focus of my projects from the impact of animation on American culture to the development of animation as an artistic style.

I don’t think it would be impossible to analyze animation’s influence over its history, but I don’t think it’d be possible to contain both the history of animation and its resulting impact in a single TED Talk. The artistic development of animation, however, is much easier and more realistic to convey, given the time limit, as the two are more intertwined rather than related through cause and effect.

I also think that shifting the focus to the development of animation will help to reveal a lot of the historical elements that the general public doesn’t truly realize today. We live in an age in which animation is everywhere, often with ten or more films being released a year, starring famous actors as title characters. This was not always the case.

The history of animation, I believe, is largely covered by the general assumptions determined by its present state. The journey to where the medium is today was purely trailblazed by Walt Disney. Had he not done so, we would not have ANY form of popularized animation today. But I’ll get into that in a later blog post. So, all in all, I am very much looking forward to writing this TED Talk and paradigm shift essay because I hope to uncover a lot of truths and stories that have been hidden over time about the rise and fall and second rise of animation.

Hello all! Below is an outline of the main ideas in my TED Talk on the influence of animation in American culture. I’m really looking forward to this presentation and I hope to portray as much of the history of animation as I can! So without further ado, please enjoy my outline!

1. Animation of the early 20th century
   1. Crude, especially by today’s standards
   2. Not viewed as a real artform or profession
   3. The original major Hollywood studios did not consider animation as part of their movie production
   4. Early cartoons included Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) which combined live action with animation in a vaudeville act
   5. Max and Dave Fleischer invented rotoscoping (the process of using live action film as a base for animated drawings
   6. Walt Disney’s Laugh-O-Grams produced The Alice Comedies, one of the first combinations of live action and animation on screen

1. Founding of Walt Disney Studios
   1. Disney’s character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was taken by Pat Powers of Warner Brothers Pictures (the distributor for the Oswald cartoons)
      1. Mickey Mouse was created on the train ride home from this meeting in New York City
   2. Steamboat Willie was the first cartoon with sound, premiering just one year after the first live action film with sound (The Jazz Singer)
      1. Success attributed to the technological feat
      2. Mickey Mouse became a household name (more popular in the 30s than anything we have today)
   3. Silly Symphony cartoons allowed for further progression of animation
      1. Flowers and Trees – first cartoon with color and first cartoon to win an Oscar
      2. The Old Mill – first use of the multiplane camera (three dimensional structure that layered multiple parts of a scene to create depth in the film)

1. The Animated Film – 1930s and early 40s
   1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – many believed animation could not carry a story throughout an entire feature film; Walt Disney focused on story and realism
      1. Creation of “story department” was new to the world of animation
      2. Film was a runaway success: grossed $8 million; first film to be merchandised; won a special Oscar for accomplishment; one of the highest grossing films of all time, when adjusted for inflation
   2. Snow White led the way for refinement of animation into a more artistic style
      1. Pinocchio focused on development of storytelling; Bambi used real-life animals as models for characters
      2. FANTASIA – collaboration between Walt Disney and famed conductor Leopold Stokowski; combined classical music with animation; expanded the artform to make it more professional and noteworthy to the artistic community; employed first use of surround sound system (Fantasound)
      3. Warner Brothers animation founded 1933: cartoons were only produced as animated shorts; were often slapstick and not artistically challenging

1. Latin America
   1. World War II closed overseas markets, making animated films difficult to produce with such high costs; Hitler banned Mickey Mouse in Germany
   2. United States government sent Walt Disney to Latin and South America on a Good Neighbor Tour (hoping to prevent Latin America from falling to Nazism)
   3. Films produced during this era focused on cultural relevancy more than artistic development; Disney was welcomed by the people of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile
   4. Other efforts in animation focused on propaganda (The Fuhrer’s Face starring Donald Duck), war training videos, and insignia for American planes and battleships

1. THE GOLDEN AGE
   1. Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959) used the skills developed from earlier films to create compelling stories, engaging characters, and musical interaction
   2. Television: Disney produced cartoons for television, shown during live action programming; Hanna-Barbera began production for television in 1958 (Flintstones premiered 1960)
   3. Sleeping Beauty was so lavish and detailed that its style is regarded as one-of-a-kind; cost of production greatly exceeded gross revenue and the style was never duplicated

1. Cost-cutting
   1. Xerox technology allowed for hand-drawn pictures to be directly translated to cels (much shorter than the traditional ink and paint process)
      1. Films like Robin Hood, The Sword in the Stone, and 101 Dalmatians all used this process, leading to a much different look than what was achieved in Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty
   2. These films suffered financially as audiences turned away from animated features; the invention of the blockbuster created nearly impossible competition; so much attention was turned toward theme parks that many animators left to found Don Bluth Productions (dissatisfaction with stagnation of animation was their primary concern)
      1. John Lasseter and Tim Burton, animators at the studio, were fired during this period for trying to push the studio in a different creative direction
   3. Poor leadership led to films that were not critically or financially successful; Roy E. Disney oversaw the restructuring of the animation department in 1984
      1. The Black Cauldron was released this year, marking the “rock bottom” of Disney animation and animation as a whole
   4. Don Bluth’s An American Tail crushed The Great Mouse Detective in 1985; however, Oliver and Company trumped The Land Before Time; Disney partnered with Amblin Entertainment to create Who Framed Roger Rabbit? with Robert Zemeckis as director
2. RENAISSANCE
   1. The Little Mermaid (1989) was the first feature to use CAPS (computer animated software developed by Pixar for Disney Animation); used musical/comedy style; result of change in leadership and mentality among the Disney animators; won 2 Academy Awards
   2. Beauty and the Beast (1991) garnered the first Academy Award nomination for Best Picture for an animated film; Aladdin (1992) established precedent of hiring famous talent for voice roles (Robin Williams); The Lion King (1994) continued the traditions established by its predecessors by incorporating an all-star cast and Elton John’s music into the film
   3. Fox Animation Studios, Turner Feature Animation, and Warner Bros. Animation produced films in a Disney-esque musical-comedy format such as Anastasia (1997), Cats Don’t Dance (1997), and Quest for Camelot (1998), respectively.
   4. Pixar Animation entered a distribution deal with Disney, starting with Toy Story (1995) that revolutionized the animation industry

1. Fall from Grace
   1. Problems in the late 90’s arose when Disney President Frank Wells died in a helicopter crash and Jeffrey Katzenberg lobbied Eisner for the President position; when he was declined, Katzenberg left and founded Dreamworks Animation with Steven Spielberg
   2. Micromanagement and money-obsession from CEO Michael Eisner led to a decline in the success of Disney Animated films; Dreamworks and Pixar increased in popularity and became formidable rivals
   3. Disney Animation downsized to cut costs of new computer animation technology and the studio suffered; Eisner almost lost the distribution deal with Pixar and pushed regular animation into a “heartless” existence
2. RENAISSANCE PART II
   1. Eisner resigns; Bob Iger takes over and announces purchase of Pixar Animation; John Lasseter and Ed Catmull of Pixar introduce director-driven model (as compared to executive-driven model)
   2. Walt Disney Animation Studios rebranded; focus on both 2D and computer animation; major success with Tangled, Frozen, Wreck-It-Ralph, Big Hero 6
   3. Pixar develops The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E, Up, Toy Story 3, Brave, Inside Out
   4. Blockbuster introduced to the world of animation
   5. Animated films become basis for Broadway musicals
   6. Animated shorts revived; used as experimental means of developing new artistic and technical styles that could potentially be extrapolated into feature-length films

Welcome back kiddies! It’s another rip-roarin’ good time here on the RCL Blog!

But really though, I love TED Talks. I don’t watch them like Seinfeld, but I think that they’re a fascinating forum for engaging conversation. And it’s not always the same thing: I’ve seen some presentations, particularly in my World Cultures class in high school, on topics that I didn’t even know existed! Things that I thought were a thing of the future were being discussed by people in plaid shirts and headsets who had been researching and working on these things for years! It’s amazing how much knowledge is out there and so much of it is hidden. Thank goodness for TED Talks, because they shed a great deal of light on technological and cultural issues and progress that, with greater awareness, will shape the world.

The first TED Talk I watched was done by Tom Uglow, a designer passionate about combining the information of the digital age and the enriching experience of the natural world. In “An internet without screens might look like this,” Uglow discusses the possible ways of seamlessly integrating technology and digital media into common life. Information would be as accessible as air or water, according to Uglow. I think what’s effective about this presentation is his gentle combination of logos and pathos: he creatively talks about the real-world contentment of things like books and print media (that were doomed a few years ago to become obsolete), and thus creates a sense of longing and nostalgia that is reminiscent of something thoughtful and personal. I think his message of integrating technology into such familiar objects is increasingly effective with his introduction.

The second TED Talk was done by social progress expert Michael Green on the United Nations’ recent revision of the world governments’ goals for the development of the world. These goals include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace and justice and partnership for these goals. He never denies that these plans will come to fruition, but he is critical in a realistic format on how these goals will be achieved. I think that this makes his presentation all the more effective: instead of being one man attempting to overcome the world’s issues on his own, he is simultaneously working with those who have the power and resources to make things happen.

Just kidding…

for now.

But anyway, I really like the idea of doing a TED Talks presentation because I think it offers more time and freedom to discuss broader, far-reaching ideas that cannot necessarily be conveyed within a five-minute time frame. That being said, I’m kind of excited for this project and I have a coupe of ideas on things that I may want to talk about. Here it goes:

1. Animation – This one is my favorite of the choices I have. I think that over the past century there has been a major shift in the popularity of animation in culture that has fluctuated substantially over a number of years. Animation was originally considered a silly past-time and was not seen as a practical profession. As it developed, it became more of an artform well through its Golden Age until it yet again fell out of favor. The past couple decades have seen an artistic renaissance in animation, yet again leading to a surge in its influence on American culture.
2. Popular Music – Music over the past century has also influenced our culture as genres have changed over time and have defined generations. I think it would be interesting to analyze which types of music have been most popular in something like a decade-by-decade format and perhaps look at how that music was influenced by to helped to influence the events of the decade.
3. Politics in Media – Political campaigns have become an integral part of American culture and seem to be anticipated every four years as a political Olympics. The advertisements and images associated with campaigns have changed to reflect the development of media and the changing tastes of the American public.

I think that any of these would be good ideas for a TED Talk, but my personal favorite is the animation (particularly Disney) because I think it’s more unique that any of the others.

I couldn’t come up with a better title because I lost track of which week we were on… anyway….

So we have two special treats for you this week! First up, we have ourselves a bit of reflection on my speech from this week. I think that I did well with my presentation and I hope that I conveyed my message effectively. I really wanted to focus on ethos and pathos in particular, with a strong underlying kairotic emphasis on the trends of the fifties and their influence on Disney’s involvement in television. I expanded my elevator pitch to include these ideas with the intention of developing the claims made in my original pitch through deeper analysis of the various elements of the commercial.

And now it’s time for the main event! The TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM THIS WEEK’S PRESENTATIONS!!!!

1. Erika’s Bags: I really thought this presentation was well-done and liked how much time was put into it. I liked the idea of using something as unique as a plastic bag; it really stood out among posters and other print media! Well done!
2. Jack’s Four Freedoms: I’m a big fan of these paintings and of Norman Rockwell’s influence on American culture, so I was very pleased to see these portraits included in the line-up for our class’s presentations. I think his analysis was well-done and I thoroughly enjoyed his entire presentation.
3. Philip Takes Us to Outer Space: Really creative! I absolutely loved the live feed from the International Space Station and thought it was an excellent touch to the presentation. The poster itself evoked hope and happiness and I think it was a fantastic choice for a civic artifact.
4. Alison and Pepsi: This was one of my favorite presentations! I really liked how it was more along the lines of a dialogue than a direct presentation, especially in the beginning when she was directly engaging the audience with a series of questions.
5. Alex and the Cursed PowerPoint: I felt really bad when this happened, but at the same time I think it was an important lesson (and quite appropriate, being the first presentation!) She really worked well through the situation and didn’t waste time trying to figure it out; the quality of her speech was not sacrificed and she did a great job overall!

Given the feedback I received from my post from last week, I have given some new thought to my paper and what I will include in my analysis.

First, I need to give more attention to the second civic artifact, the Epcot television program. I think that I will take a similar approach to this artifact as I did with the Disneyland commercial. So much of the 1954 commercial’s success was due to the kairotic elements involved in its presentation, and I think that this idea also extends to the Epcot promotional program as well. As for the Disneyland commercial, I will take a closer look into the rhetorical strategies used within the advertisement itself, which hopefully will help to better explain the context within the commercial. The most difficult part about analyzing two television programs is that one cannot really present a commercial in its entirety in a printed form, such as a paper. For both artifacts, this will require more explanation without sacrificing analysis of either subject.

Secondly, the speech may require a little tweaking, especially in regard to presentation. I believe its relatively solid in content, but it may need a little refinement. The comments I received from both my peers and Mrs. O’Hara have both helped tremendously in presenting my analysis more effectively. Sometimes I assume that people may know a lot about Disney’s theme park projects without presenting enough background information, but I think describing each advertisement and related project without giving too many anecdotes will help to give my audience a better perspective into the rhetorical analysis without getting caught up in the artifacts themselves.

We’ll see how things go next week! Thank you to those who gave me commentary about my projects; it is much appreciated!

Enjoy! I know, there’s a lot to be desired. Still working out some of the kinks in my second argument. But enjoy nonetheless!

Nicholas Karafilis

Dr. Jessica O’Hara

English 137H

25 September 2015

Disney on Television: Shaping American Culture through Entertainment and Innovation

Following the second World War, America was on the verge of unprecedented economic development that would ultimately impact popular culture and society for decades to come. The nation was on the rise as a global superpower and the financial stability of the Baby Boomer generation created a void of economic spending that would soon be seized by American corporations. With the rise of both consumer spending and mass media, one such American company dove into the new field of television while other entertainment studios neglected the new medium. Walt Disney, however, saw television as an opportunity to sell his new ideas to the American public and create a sense of patriotism associated with his company. Disney television programs of the late fifties and early sixties emphasize the patriotic connection between American industry and family-oriented entertainment by reinforcing the changing cultural norms of the era and establishing his company’s image as an authority on innovation and enterprise.

In a particular ABC commercial from 1954, sponsors of the park showcase the American entrepreneurial spirit by giving support to Disney’s newest project and promoting a culture of patriotism through media, innovation, and industry. Disney appeals to ethos through the inclusion of their sponsors; American Motors, the maker Nash Automobiles, Kelvinator home appliances, and Hudson motorcars, had a strong presence in the manufacturing sector of the American economy. Since many Americans may have owned or used their products, their promotion of Disneyland highlights the connection between quality production and nationalist economy that are both relevant to Disney and American Motors. Likewise, Derby Foods, the makers of “premium smooth-spreading Peter Pan Peanut Butter” appeal to the public through pathos by making a direct connection to family and children through food products. It is also no coincidence that the Disney film “Peter Pan” premiered a year prior to this commercial, creating yet another connection between an established family product and the Disneyland name. Mentioning that Peter Pan Peanut Butter is “America’s favorite” intentionally helps to promote the patriotism associated with Disneyland and well-trusted, established companies that either directly use the name “America” or include it as a slogan.

In regard to kairos, this commercial is beneficial in a multitude of ways. Americans had more economic opportunity and more free time, along with the Baby Boomer generation that was nearing the age of mid-childhood. Parents were looking for new opportunities to entertain and treat their kids and this, in combination with direct programming via the newly-created television, helped to create an environment in which kids started to become a target audience for advertising. As for adults, the general trends in interest and entertainment were geared toward Westerns, in both film and television; overseas travel, due to the growth of the airline industry; and futuristic technology, derived from the Space Race, nuclear power, and the technologies developed for modern home conveniences. Growing prosperity under the Eisenhower administration allowed families to take things like vacations and own things like televisions. It is also interesting to note that this program premiered on ABC, the American Broadcasting Corporation. ABC’s commitment to provide financial support for Walt’s experiment exhibits yet another connection between American corporations and the Disney brand. Most importantly, the resurgence of American and familial ideals, due to the escalating Cold War, created an opportunity for American corporations to attach their brand and their product to patriotism. This essentially dictates a responsibility to actively participate in the American economy through the purchase of American products and attendance in such patriotic activities as a day at Disneyland.

The second television program was originally broadcasted as part of Walt Disney’s expanded television presence, “The Wonderful World of Color.” In what would become his last televised appearance, Walt Disney promoted his newest idea for the Florida Project, an experimental community of tomorrow in which the problems of cities would be solved through the cooperation of American industry. His proposed EPCOT project would be the grandest component of the Disney World property and would serve as a testament to his lasting legacy.

Nick Karafilis RCL Blog Post

Draft of Civic Artifact Speech

“To all who come to this happy place – welcome. Disneyland is your land.” But before it was your land, it was the simple dream of Walt Disney, born from a wish to create a place in which children and parents could have fun together. His revolutionary park was sold to the public through the growing influence of television and its marketing as an American institution. In a particular ABC commercial from 1954, sponsors of the park showcase the American entrepreneurial spirit by giving support to Disney’s newest project and promoting a culture of patriotism through media, innovation, and industry.

View commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBhWEJePkVw

Disney appeals to ethos through the inclusion of their sponsors, just as any other company or event would promote such support. American Motors, the maker Nash Automobiles, Kelvinator home appliances, and Hudson motorcars, has a strong presence in the manufacturing sector of the American economy. Since many Americans may have owned or used their products, their promotion of Disneyland highlights the connection between quality production and nationalist economy that are both relevant to Disney and American Motors.

Likewise, Derby Foods, the makers of “premium smooth-spreading Peter Pan Peanut Butter” appeal to the public through pathos by making a direct connection to family and children through food products. It is also no coincidence that the Disney film “Peter Pan” premiered a year prior to this commercial, creating yet another connection between an established family product and the Disneyland name. Mentioning that Peter Pan Peanut Butter is “America’s favorite” is also no accident and helps to additionally promote the patriotism associated with Disneyland and well-trusted, established companies that either directly use the name “America” or include it as a slogan.

It is also interesting to note that this program premiered on ABC, the American Broadcasting Corporation. Now this was mainly due to the fact that the other two major networks, CBS and NBC, turned down Roy Disney’s offer for sponsorship of the park in exchange for television programming. However, ABC’s commitment to provide financial support for Walt’s experiment exhibits yet another connection between American corporations and the Disney brand.

What is so special about all of these American companies sponsoring Disney? These events take place nearly a decade after the end of World War II as America was approaching superpower status. Americans had more economic opportunity and more free time, along with the Baby Boomer generation that was nearing the age of mid-childhood. Parents were looking for new opportunities to entertain and treat their kids and this, in combination with direct programming via the newly-created television, helped to create an environment in which kids started to become a target audience for advertising. As for adults, the general trends in interest and entertainment were geared toward Westerns (in both film and television), overseas travel (due to the growth of the airline industry), and futuristic technology (derived from the Space Race, nuclear power, and the technologies developed for modern home conveniences). These trends helped direct the guidance of Disneyland itself which, in combination with animated features, led to the establishment of the park’s four lands: Frontierland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

In regard to kairos, this commercial is beneficial in a multitude of ways. The growing Disney name became synonymous with television as the studio was the only major Hollywood company that invested in television. The trends in popular culture described earlier all emerged within the fifties decade. Growing prosperity under the Eisenhower administration allowed families to take things like vacations and own things like televisions. And most importantly, the resurgence of American and familial ideals, due to the escalating Cold War, created an opportunity for American corporations to attach their brand and their product to patriotism. This essentially dictates a responsibility to actively participate in the American economy through the purchase of American products and attendance in such patriotic activities as a day at Disneyland. This position at the forefront of American culture helped to instill Disneyland as an institution of family entertainment rooted in patriotic connections that ultimately give a unique perspective into the growing field of mass media and consumerism in 1950s America.

Captain’s Log: We’ve made it through another week of Honors English. Each day, I struggle through the arduous journey that is rhetoric and civic life…

Just kidding.

This past week, I’ve enjoyed the discussions regarding the five canons and the concept of “kairos,” something I took particular interest in during last week’s post regarding Disneyland. Believe it or not, there is a common theme here, as my civic artifact centers around the park in its earliest days.

My civic artifact is a commercial that was shown during the first ABC television broadcast of The Disneyland Show, a program that advertised the upcoming attractions and creations of Disneyland Park. Debuted in 1954, this commercial makes strong connections to American industry through the growing influence of television and the attachment to Disneyland Park as a fellow American icon. Below is a rough draft of my elevator pitch for this commercial. Please enjoy.

Please.

The Elevator Pitch… in all of its glory.

“To all who come to this happy place – welcome. Disneyland is your land.” But before it was your land, it was the simple dream of Walt Disney, born from a wish to create a place in which children and parents could have fun together. His revolutionary park was sold to the public through the growing influence of television and its marketing as an American institution. In a particular ABC commercial from 1954, sponsors of the park showcase the American entrepreneurial spirit by giving support to Disney’s newest project and promoting a culture of patriotism through media, innovation, and industry. This essentially dictates a responsibility to actively participate in the American economy through the purchase of American products and attendance in such patriotic activities as a day at Disneyland. This position at the forefront of American culture helped to instill Disneyland as an institution of family entertainment rooted in patriotic connections that ultimately give a unique perspective into the growing field of mass media and consumerism in 1950s America.

That’s all folks! Hopefully I can refine it to the best of my ability. If you have any suggestions on how to better my elevator pitch, please feel free to share! Please and thank you!