| Disneyland, an amusement park that opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955, has become a major institution in American popular culture. Spending a day at a Disney park has become an important shared experience for many Americans. One way of beginning to understand the nature of this experience and its relation to American culture is to look at the various ways Disneyland has been interpreted by journalists, academic analysts, and park creators themselves. Since 1955, the number of Disney parks, their content, and their context in their surroundings has changed. Interpretations of the parks have also shifted, and often the concerns raised involving the parks reflected concerns about developments in American society. When examined with historical perspective, Disneyland "readings" reveal new approaches to American culture and environments, and ultimately demonstrate how a "playground" can actually emerge as a center for study and a focal point for cultural inquiry. |
