Question 8

Grossberg claims that "cultural studies refuses to assume that people are cultural dupes, but sometimes they are manipulated." This statement is proven in the film Mickey Mouse Monopoly, because it shows how Disney consumes our media and enters our subconscious as children. We develop our notions of reality basically from Disney, which has themes of racism, classism, male dominance, and commercialization. If these messages are the only things we see in our media, how would we question it? Disney is an unquestioned, "wholesome family entertainment." Political economy enters because Disney promotes a corporate culture. It has a monopoly on the media industry and controls what we see.

While Mickey Mouse Monopoly focuses on the macrocosm of the Disney empire, MouseTrapped 2010 focuses on a smaller section- the workers at Disney's parks. The film stated that Disney is a local monopoly in Central Florida and the area's largest employer, but its workers usually must take a second job if they are to financially support themselves. It depicts a working-class struggle and topics such as salary, insurance, and pension.