For many; the middle ages depicted in Walt Disney movies have come to figure as the middle ages; forming the earliest visions of the medieval past for much of the contemporary Western (and increasingly Eastern) imagination. The essayists of The Disney Middle Ages explore Disneys mediation and re-creation of a fairy-tale and fantasy past; not to lament its exploitation of the middle ages for corporate ends; but to examine how and why these medieval visions prove so readily adaptable to themed entertainments many centuries after their creation. What results is a scrupulous and comprehensive examination of the intersection between the products of the Disney Corporation and popular cultures fascination with the middle ages.
2012-11-27 2012-11-27File Name: B00AYDPXY6
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy CustomerA great book; thoroughly researched and a good read.9 of 11 people found the following review helpful. These feet were made for walkingBy Steven ForthA sweet little book; I read much of it while out walking around the South End of Boston (walking while reading is one of my many bad habits). Soderstom has woven together elements of social history (the stories of Baron Haussmann and Paris; Jane Jacobs and New York and Toronto); with personal narrative and policy analysis. She makes you want to get out and walk around; and travel; travel even to such unexpected places as Don Mills Ontario (now there is a sentence I had never expected to write).This book is a gentle introduction to what we need to do to make our towns and cities more walkable and our lives healthier and more enjoyable. It is especially recommended as it covers nit just North American (New York; Toronto; Carlsbad CA; Don Mills; North Vancouver); but other places as well - Europe (mostly Paris); Asia (Singapore) and Africa (Lushoto; Tanzania).I have been fortunate to always have lived in cities that were walkable (Montreal; Ottawa; Tokyo; Copenhagen; Vancouver; Boston) and now I will only live in a place where I can walk to a good fish monger; green grocer and bookstore; where I can get downtown by foot; and where I can cycle or walk to work. My current home in the South End of Boston is perfect; as is the place where my wife and I raised our children; Kitsilano in Vancouver.One small point - there is little in this book about cycling. I hope that the cities and towns of the future will blend walking; cycling; low impact public transit and good access to interurban transportation that pushes feelers out into the coutryside. Perhaps Soderstrom will follow up this book with something on urban cycling - an edgier experience than walking; but vital to our future transportation (I hope).In any case; I liked this book enough to go out and order her other two books: Green City: People Nature and Urban Places and Recreating Eden: A Natural History of Botanical Gardens.