Disney World as a Sacred Place?: Emily Tucker

 "Profane Experience and Sacred Encounter: Journeys to Disney and the Camino de Santiago" written by Dr. Kip Redick

According to Belden C. Lane's axioms, "a sacred place is an ordinary place that is ritually made extraordinary". In the case of Disney, the ritual action is consumption.  Secondly, a sacred place can be "tred upon without being entered". Not everyone treats Disney as a sacred location, but some view it as a "quasi-religious" experience. Lastly, Disney is existentially sacred. The meaning is derived from the consumer; it is not inherently sacred. 

Redick describes numerous similarities between hikers on the Camino de Santiago and tourists visiting Disney world. From entrance ceremonies, logos and copyrights, a controlled environment, and communal quest towards a shared meaning such as "dream-making" and "follow your heart". Many people turn visits to Disney world into a sort of "quasi-religious" experience. 

Reading these similarities made me question whether this is a good thing? Spiritual journeys to places such as the Camino de Santiago allow people to find meaning from things transcendent of themselves and the "marketplace". However, putting a place like Disney World to this level does not give meaning from the same place. Instead, it is deriving meaning from something that is heavily rooted in the marketplace. It is defined by transnationality and consumerism. Instead of being separate from the things that define the marketplace, it is engulfed in it. One's entire personality and meaning is rooted in something man-made and fictional, whereas meaning derived from the spiritual is rooted in truth and reality. 

I think it is fun to go to places like Disney to experience magic and entertainment, but when it is placed beyond that, it turns into a scary spiral towards finding one's identity in consumerism and falsities. 


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