Customer Reviews

The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

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It sounds like a good premise if a bit of a tall order, examine Disney's animated features for the role that their themes have played in the moral and spiritual development of generations of children. The idea being that these themes originated in the minds of Walt Disney and his successors, who were not entirely motivated by a bottom line, but had certain political and social agendas to advance.

Unfortunately, Mark I. Pinsky, the religion reporter for The Orlando Sentinel, conducts his analysis of the Disney animation world like a reporter running late for a press run deadline. Mostly this consists of a cursory viewing of 31 Disney films, plucking out a few nuggets of content that support his theme, and creating short chapters speculating on the symbolism within each film.

At the end is a non-philosophical analysis of the 1990's boycott by the Southern Baptist Contention.

Shortly into the book it becomes obvious that Pinsky has made little if any attempt to examine the source material for each film, attributing each relevant element to Disney rather than to the source material from which each screenplay was adapted.

This becomes especially glaring when a reader is familiar with the source material. A more useful approach would have been to compare and contrast the original material with its adaptation; identifying which elements Disney elected to keep, to cut, and to alter. It is likely that what was excluded is just as important as what was included in understanding the motivational forces at work within the Disney empire.

For example, the animated film "Alice in Wonderland" (1951) was more inspired by than adapted from the original Lewis Carroll story. Little more than title, some character names, and the basic premise (little heroine dreaming about going down a rabbit hole into a strange wonderland) was utilized by the Disney movie. That most viewer's believe it was a closer adaptation stems from the use of John Tenniel's original prints as inspiration for the character sketches.

Pinsky details several scenes in the film that were not even part of Carroll's story, then states: "For all the complaints about Disney's tinkering with and sanding down the edges of fairy tales, "Alice in Wonderland" demonstrates the pitfalls of fidelity to the original, of illustrating a classic story rather than transforming it and making it your own". As anyone even vaguely familiar with the book and the film know, on this point Pinsky is totally incorrect. Only someone unfamiliar with Carroll's original could have reached such a faulty conclusion. The failure (be it error or laziness) to do basic research in this case should set off reader alarm bells regarding most of the other assertions Pinsky makes in this book. No doubt some are valid but readers would do well to not accept any of Pinsky's points at face value.

Which doesn't mean that Pinsky's ideas are totally useless. They introduce fresh ways to examine many elements within Disney's features and might actually provide some useful insights to anyone motivated to aggressively explore his cursory assertions.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

As I've mentioned before, I'm a Disney addict. So it was understandable when I picked up The Gospel According To Disney - Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust by Mark I. Pinsky. As usual in these types of books, I was somewhat disappointed...

Pinsky is the religion reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, and he's also written The Gospel According To The Simpsons (which I haven't read). In the Disney book, he first looks at the Disney organization and attempts to determine what the company religious views are. That can mean anything from the company's view of life to how they tolerate organized religion. This information then provides the backdrop for the majority of the book, which is a review of the company's animated films and what religious concepts are woven into them. The last couple of chapters examines the Disney theme parks and the Baptist boycott in the light of religious themes.

Now I have a bias here myself. I don't go to Disney films to gain religious instruction or insight. I go to be entertained. And while there are lessons to be learned in films, it's also easy to superimpose a personal view or bias and then interpret everything in that light. Unfortunately, I feel that's what is happening in this book. Since Pinsky is looking to find religious thought in each film, everything that appears is colored by that expectation. It's very possible that what he sees is really there and was really intended. But all too often I felt as if the explanation was possible only because you were looking for it. I'm sure if an organization like PETA were to write a book like this looking at Disney from an animal rights perspective, they would end up seeing the same type of thoughts that pertain to their views and make it look like Disney's foremost thought in films is animal rights.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you reduce any examination of events to a single issue (politics, religion, etc.), it's easy to see things that aren't there. I come away from this book feeling like a fair amount of that occurred.

Religion journalist Mark Pinsky presents The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust, a sober exploration of the role that the animated features of the Walt Disney Country have carried out in the spiritual, emotional, and ethical development of generations of young adults. Discussing ideological themes in thirty-one of the most popular Disney films including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Beauty and the Beast", and "The Lion King", The Gospel According to Disney also reaches beyond the impact of the morality plays on the big screen to such issues as the postive and negative contributions that theme parks have on American culture, why the Southern Baptist Convention chose to boycott Disney in the 1990's and the repercussions of that movement, and much more. An astutely researched and written exploration of the interesection between spirituality and one company's domain of popular entertainment.

This is a great idea for a book that is written by the wrong person. A self-admitted Leftist Jewish newspaper writer with no academic credentials attempts to analyze the moral "gospel" implications of the animated works of Disney--choosing to leave out selected works (Song of the South, Winnie the Pooh, Great Mouse Detective, etc.) and then saying that he has made every attempt to be "fair." No Mary Poppins or Toy Story? How can you claim to analyze Disney's themes without some of its greatest films?

It's an interesting concept and at least he admits his leanings up front, though why then does he not admit that he is biased in his views? He subtly slams "right wingers" who see negative imagery in Disney films as "Marxist" and says that he feels he, as a liberal Jew, can fairly represent the Christian viewpoint because he has worked the past nine years in the Bible belt (claiming "I have developed evangelical eyes in analyzing popular culture").

Pinsky is certainly full of himself as he goes film-by-film through most of the major Disney animated movies. But he doesn't see how his own biases impact his opinions. Typical of newspaper religion reporters, he claims objectivity when in reality this book is a subjective thesis from a left-wing viewpoint regarding the moral aspects of Disney cartoons.

It is pretty weak in its analysis. For example, Pinsky devotes four pages to Pinocchio, which has some of the most obvious religious symbolism in all Disney movies. But most of what's written is simply plot description with a couple paragraphs devoted to the Blue Fairy being Virgin Mary and only a sentence given to the Jonah "allusion." Little analysis of the prayer in the movie, the conscience or the resurrection. It is truly disappointing in the context of the book's theme.

There are also discussions of feminism (Beauty and the Beast) and racism (Aladdin), along with chapters on "Michael and Jeffrey," the Baptist boycott and Disney's theme parks--all of which are outside the realm of the opening thesis of the book (which is supposedly only devoted to religion in animated films).

If he truly looked at Disney with "gospel" eyes he would see that there is much negative about Disney movies that believers don't like and that even though the company used to have a squeaky-clean image, most of its films do have "devil" creatures without corresponding God-like characters. Walt wanted to make sure that each film had "good triumph over evil." But that is not realistic nor is that what is often remembered from the films (just see Princess and the Frog and you'll have the devil-like image in your head long after forgetting what the title characters look like!).

So Disney included wicked, evil characters in every animated film with a message that our own human internal "good" would win, without the need for spiritually redemption from a God-like source. Magic, sorcerers and witches are seen as the holders of power. That is not what the Christian gospel is about and is offensive to many believers.

Pinsky quickly goes through 38 very short chapters, some just a couple pages long. He is a good writer but these read like an assembled group of newspaper columns instead of a coherent book. There are a few interesting things, but even the section on Walt's religious upbringing is inconclusive since sources differ. There are really no answers to questions here and he doesn't even do a good job asking the right questions.

He also quotes from his film critic colleague at the Orlando paper, yet this guy says religion before the 1960s was "off limits" on the big screen and movies were considered "trash" or "profane." Is this guy serious? The movies before the 1960s often had spirituality and morality, while only in more recent decades have they turned trashy. Such is the warped perspective of newspaper columnists, who are often pulled from the hard news ranks to write weekly pieces about subjects they are not trained in (like film and religion!).

The closest to truth the book comes is some quotes from religious leaders, one who points out that Disney stories are like Bible parables, not meant to be theological truth but to make a simple point. Yet these same religious leaders preach sermons claiming you can learn about parenting, Bible values and living correctly from watching Disney movies--and that's a stretch. Those few voices on a couple of pages are the only parts of the book that really address the Gospel according to Disney.

In his sequel to the Gospel According to the Simpsons, Mark Pinsky does not do as good a job in this his sequel. Nonetheless, the subject of religion in Disney is at times fascinating.

Pinsky, though, has insisted on including pretty much every single feautre film in its own chapter. In not every movie is a discussion about spirituality warranted. Pinksy has also inclued his own condradictory opinions at times when they are not needed.

Still, you'll find this a good read through most of the book and something that will get you thinking about the connection between religion and the Walt Disney Company. You'll probably enjoy it if you enjoyed his last book.

I review books for a radio network and I found this book to be a real treat.
The Gospel According to Disney is an interesting and informative treatment of the different Disney movies, going back to his first full length film, Snow White. All of the major Disney films are discussed in an objective fashion and in great detail. The relative lack of Christian observance by Walt Disney is balanced by his promotion of optimism and hard work, the need for faith in what you are doing and that evil is always punished and good is rewarded. According to Disney's movies, you don't pray to God, you wish upon a star instead. A lot of the personal life of Disney is covered, particularly his early years and I found the entire book to be well written and informative, but without the saccharin-sweet coverage that some authors might have put into their works about this remarkable man. I recommend this book highly for parents and students, particularly those in high school. Whether we like him or not, Disney is an integral part of American culture and, as one of my grandchildren recently said: 'Mickey Mouse rules!'

Mark I. Pinsky, the religion reporter for The Orlando Sentinel, is one of the foremost U.S. journalists covering religion today --- and I write that from personal experience, on two levels. First, as a former religion reporter for The Asbury Park Press, I know how challenging the job can be and how much open-mindedness and fair-mindedness it takes to do justice to various expressions of faith, given the highly personal and emotionally charged nature of the field of religion. Second, I live in the Orlando area and regularly read Pinsky's work. I know of no other religion reporter working today who puts so much effort into understanding the nuances of each stream of faith and every little rivulet that's part of each of those streams.

Pinsky's journalistic skills are enhanced by his analytical skills, and both are evident throughout THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO DISNEY. Pinsky understands the Disney "theology" as well as he understands the concerns of religious people who have taken that theology to task over the years. Contemporary readers may be most familiar with the failed Baptist boycott of a few years ago, but as the author points out, both Jews and Muslims have also attacked the entertainment giant. Back in 1933, the American Jewish Congress --- Pinsky is Jewish, by the way --- charged Disney with perpetuating a Jewish stereotype in the animated short The Three Little Pigs, in which the big bad wolf disguises himself as a Jewish peddler with a large hooked nose and a Yiddish accent. Similarly, Arab and Muslim groups expressed outrage over the Middle Eastern stereotypes portrayed in the 1992 feature Aladdin, which I suspect you would have to be blind not to see. As Pinsky points out, the villains are all stereotypical Arabs while the stars of the show, Aladdin and Jasmine, more closely resemble tanned Southern Californians, despite the surfer girl's almond-shaped eyes.

But just what is this Disney gospel --- this blend of "faith, trust, and pixie dust"? It's American cultural religion: belief in the ability of the self to overcome adversity, faith in faith itself, adherence to the American ethic of morality and hard work. Pinsky cites a wonderful quote from evangelicalism's Phil Vischer, of VeggieTales fame: "Like a house dressing designed to appeal moderately to almost everyone while offending no one, Disney created a sort of 'house religion,' absorbing much of the benefits of Judeo-Christian belief while leaving behind any 'unseemly' obligation to conform to the will of a higher authority...[appealing to] people who want to believe in something that doesn't require anything of them. That's the religion we've all been dying for."

Pinsky traces the evolution of the Disney gospel --- which includes the good news about inclusivism and environmentalism, two terms that rankle evangelicals --- from the studio's earliest releases to the 2003 release of Brother Bear and touches on Disney-related news as recent as the arrest several months ago of Tigger --- okay, the man who wore the Tigger costume, if you must get technical --- on a charge of fondling a young teenager. (Tigger was found not guilty, by the way.)

Some of Pinsky's analyses: The Black Cauldron: "The Judeo-Christian construct that frames most of Disney's animated features is wholly absent in this pagan fantasy...neither God nor stars nor fairy godmothers intervene"; The Little Mermaid: "...a seismic shift...in the way young women are portrayed. In contrast to her predecessors, Ariel acts rather than being acted on. She makes decisions and takes risks...[an indicator] of the changing role of women in the West" (a change some evangelicals denounced as radical feminism at the time); The Lion King: [the movie] "demonstrated that, after all the decades of caricature and stereotype, it was indeed possible for Disney...to reach beyond the Western experience and the Judeo-Christian construct."

Pinsky concludes that Disney's films are "useful tools in building a general, moral sensibility among children and in reinforcing parental and religious values" --- values that, if strong enough and communicated clearly enough, will not be undermined by the Disney theology. He draws this conclusion not only as a religion reporter but also as a concerned parent who has struggled with the effects of media saturation on young minds.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO DISNEY is an enlightening read for Disney lovers and Disney haters alike --- and for those who have become increasingly troubled by the media giant's seeming change in direction from the straight and narrow. You may reach a different conclusion from Pinsky's, but you'll do so armed with a wealth of information to defend your decision. Highly recommended.

We purchased this book at a church convention thinking it might be interesting to get a religious perspective on Disney.What we got instead was a schizophrenic,overly-critical tearing apart of what are truly good films.Mr. Pinsky's overall opinion seemed hard to place.Sometimes his opinions were on the side of the conservative.At other times,they could be placed squarely on the side of the very,very,lunatic-fringe sector of liberal.While some of what he said was fair criticism,the majority of it was nothing more than whiny nitpicking.For example,he criticized Lady and the Tramp for stereotyping.I disgree with his opinion there.Number one,I thought that the nationatlities were portrayed fairly realistically to how they would have been in a neighbourhood like that at the turn of the century.Also,each group was portrayed in a very positive light.The Italian restrateur and chef are two of the best characters in the movie.And just becuase the movie portrayed them certain groups in a certain way does not mean that from watching everyone assumes they are all like that.I grew up with this movie and I know that each individual is unique and you can't categorize someone on basis of their race and/or ethnicity.
I will be fair though,the chapter on the actual business minds who now run Disney and on the current condition of the parks themselves was useful.It put into perspective that the current establishment has far more important things to do than make decent films.It really helped to explain the horribly poor excuses for film that Disney has turned out over the past few years.
However,in conclusion,this book is really not worth the time unless you want a laugh at the expense of nitpickers like Mr. Pinsky.If you are a die-hard Disney lover,I especially suggest you read something else.

Althought the book was insightful, it is not for those who are avid fans of Disney. In most chapters Pinsky tries to search for something that is not there. 3 year old girls do not see Cinderella as a woman with "Cinderella syndrome" searching for her Prince Charming, they see it for what it is... a fairy tale. As for me and my nieces we will watch all the fairy tales and learn from them what Disney is trying to show, that dreams do come true. This book is definately not for someone who is hoping to see Disney in a positive light.

If ever there was a book that embodied the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover", this book is it. I picked it up at my local Barnes and Nobles, expecting an entertaining and inspiring read. From page one, I felt my stomach knot up and the more I read, the more disgusted I became. This man not only slanders Uncle Walt's good name(calling such characters as Mickey, Donald, Tink and so forth satanic because they believe in wishing on a star instead of praying to God) but implies that anyone who follows Disney's moral code is destined for eternal condemnation. Pinsky then goes to openly voice his support for the Southern Baptist Boycott, a boycott that was made up of convervative Christians making false allegations of materials in Disney films that never appeared. To all die-hard Disney fans, DON'T READ THIS BOOK! To Pinsky, leave the book-writting to someone with real vision because you wouldn't know creativity if it handed you a business card!