>>brudge+(OP)
The first time this went around in 2007, watching it made me feel like an alien. Everybody seemed to find it so inspiring, but I just found it kind of sad. The whole thing about being a Disney engineer seemed like such a manufactured dream. I don't want to criticize someone who died too young, but it just all seems so empty to me. I don't understand why a tenured professor who has all the freedom in the world would choose to go out of his way to work for such an evil corporation. It's kind of funny that Disney ended up being the embodiment of all the villains in their movies.
>>qntty+0F5
He wanted to create something that brought joy to children. As "evil" as Disney may or may not be, being an Imagineer and getting to use your technical skills to bring enjoyment to kids is something he felt very passionately about. Being a tenured professor doesn't give you the same outreach as working for Disney does when building an amusement park ride.
>>crysin+PF5
I understand the appeal, it just still baffles me that everybody who had anything to say about found it inspiring, since I find it so distasteful. Not that it's wrong to feel that way, but it's just strange to me that nobody seemed to have a problem with it.
>>qntty+6H5
The Cory Doctorow book "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" (readable for free online) captures the duality of Disney very well.
On one hand, it produces brilliant, creative, high quality work, and makes it accessible to everyone. On the other hand, it's quite willing to destroy everyone else's work in order to ensure it stays on top.