Disney Pajama Party

     Last night, one of our female RAs organized a get-together in the common room for all of the ladies of Brown. Though I was only able to stop in for a few minutes due to an Investment Club meeting, I found myself amidst a group of pajama-clad women lounging on the couches painting their nails, snacking on junk food, and watching Disney films. The atmosphere was very laid back and everyone seemed to be having a great time.
     The first image that comes to mind when one thinks of "college women" could not be further from the one that was being lived out in our common room on a Sunday night. Considering that we are currently at an age in which we value our maturity and identify ourselves more closely with adults than children, I found the entire situation slightly ironic--it reminded me distinctly of my childhood slumber party experiences. Due to popular stereotypes surrounding Disney and its perceived target audience of adolescents, one does not typically associate Disney with teenagers or adults. However, I am noticing more and more that our generation is unwilling to let go of our connections to Disney and our favorite animated characters. As nineties' babies who were born alongside some of Disney's most popular, successful films, our childhoods are inextricably tied to Disney because the corporation had such a large influence upon American culture as we were growing up.
     As alluded to in many of the articles that we have been exploring in class, the Disney films of the nineties, in comparison to previous works, especially sought to cater to a wider audience of both children and adults. As a result, movies such as Aladdin, The Lion King, and Toy Story retain much of their appeal even as their viewers mature and age. This characteristic may in fact increase the enduring popularity of these films; personally, I love watching Disney movies and comparing my perceptions of them now to those from when I was a child. Similar to the experience of re-reading the same novel after many years, viewers of these films are able to pick up on new details and elements of humor with each subsequent screening.
     For all of these reasons, I believe that our generation will continue to celebrate Disney even as we enter the realm of adulthood. In the years to come, it will be immensely intriguing to witness the ways in which Disney influences both adolescents and adults, as well as American culture as a whole.