EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
Thats why Epcot's World Showcase matters so much.
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News Main Street Photo Supply Co. Being Replaced By Plaza Point Holiday Shoppe
- Thread starter VJ
- Start date
EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
OK. I don't know what else to say or how to further express myself. I've tried my best.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
That's not it at all.
There should be a Puerto Rican shopkeeper somewhere. There should be a LOT of Latino backstories in DCA, and they should be reality based and historically grounded.
But having a Puerto Rican time-traveler set up shop on Main Street USA makes no more sense than having a Puerto Rican time-traveler be the owner of the French Alps themed Le Petite Chalet store in Fantasyland. In 1900 Missouri there were hundreds of thousands of Black women living there. You couldn't create a Black proprietress with a typical Midwest story? Why the need to pretend there was mass migration of Puerto Ricans into the Midwest just after the Spanish-American war?
And then finally, to allow the 2021 middle manager for shelving units and window displays to guide the story of Main Street USA shops she is assigned to update is just... weird. It spells messy thematics and storytelling ahead, although this Puerto Rican time-traveler that now runs the Christmas shop is already messy.
When did middle management get to start incorporating their own modern stories and lives into themed environments? And why? Who thought that was a good idea and advances the expensive experience of Disneyland? And what special people get to do that?
If I'm very religious and don't drink alcohol (just pretend for a second) and I get a job as the New Orleans Square Food & Beverage Manager, do I get to revert the Blue Bayou back to no alcohol service? Probably not.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Off the top of my head, if I were to create a Main Street USA backstory for the owner of the Christmas shop, I came up with the following in about 90 seconds.
The only rules are the shop owner must be; 1. Female 2. Not White Go!...
The owner of the new Christmas shop on Main Street USA is Miss Telulah Bounds. As a young girl, Miss Bounds moved to Missouri with her family from South Carolina in 1875 and grew up on a farm, and was always a bookish child with a mischevious streak. Last year she went to the 1904 Lewis & Clark Exposition in St. Louis and was spellbound by the different world cultures on display in the pavilions and exhibits at that World's Fair. She's now bringing that sense of world adventure to her beloved shop selling Christmas decor, where she has sourced not only traditional decor but also a few unique pieces from different countries and cultures. The local townsfolk now pop in to Miss Bound's holiday store year-round, as they can't wait to discover what she has found next!
Miss Bounds, at far left, sits on the steps of the Spain Pavilion with friends at 1904 World's Fair.
It needs some work, I'm no Imagineer, and I did that in the amount of time it took for me to type it. But that kind of story is something that fits Main Street USA. It honors the theme and supports the environment. It also nods to Disney history, as Walt attended the St. Louis World's Fair as a boy.
And it's a million times more believable that a small town shopkeeper would spend 50 Cents for a ticket to the St. Louis World's Fair, than actually circle the globe on a time-traveling merchandise safari.
Although the TDA middle manager in charge of shelving units will now need to find some other way to feel Inclusion! in her life. Maybe local volunteer work?
The only rules are the shop owner must be; 1. Female 2. Not White Go!...
The owner of the new Christmas shop on Main Street USA is Miss Telulah Bounds. As a young girl, Miss Bounds moved to Missouri with her family from South Carolina in 1875 and grew up on a farm, and was always a bookish child with a mischevious streak. Last year she went to the 1904 Lewis & Clark Exposition in St. Louis and was spellbound by the different world cultures on display in the pavilions and exhibits at that World's Fair. She's now bringing that sense of world adventure to her beloved shop selling Christmas decor, where she has sourced not only traditional decor but also a few unique pieces from different countries and cultures. The local townsfolk now pop in to Miss Bound's holiday store year-round, as they can't wait to discover what she has found next!
Miss Bounds, at far left, sits on the steps of the Spain Pavilion with friends at 1904 World's Fair.
It needs some work, I'm no Imagineer, and I did that in the amount of time it took for me to type it. But that kind of story is something that fits Main Street USA. It honors the theme and supports the environment. It also nods to Disney history, as Walt attended the St. Louis World's Fair as a boy.
And it's a million times more believable that a small town shopkeeper would spend 50 Cents for a ticket to the St. Louis World's Fair, than actually circle the globe on a time-traveling merchandise safari.
Although the TDA middle manager in charge of shelving units will now need to find some other way to feel Inclusion! in her life. Maybe local volunteer work?
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mickEblu
Well-Known Member
KeithVH
Well-Known Member
Yeah, 'cause TDO and TDA haven't had ANY problems like that in the last ten years . . .
TP2000
Well-Known Member
True, but that was when they were still letting profesionals at Imagineering create and tell the stories.
Now they are letting the middle managers in TDA create and tell the stories, to at least a noticeable extent. That's not going to end well.
And what gets you the ability to put an impact on the location you are tasked with as the manager of a store or restaurant or ride? Does the married white father of three who is involved with the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club get to do that too? Or is it just whatever demographic is trending on Twitter at the time of the refurbishment that gets that honor? As you can see, it gets messy very fast.
I think the Imagineers should create the stories in the park, and leave the TDA managers out of it.
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
My hot take (if anyone cares):
If I understand the situation correctly, the women in the window, the shopkeeper, and the child are all based on an actual employee and her family. Why don't they just say that without the silly backstory? "When designing the look and feel of the new shop, we took the opportunity to allow one of our own to imagine themselves and their loved ones in the imagined world of Main Street USA." Or something similar.... Less tokenism, more "look our workforce is diverse", and more fun ("Hey, that's the lady that did this painting! And all these people are her family. Cool!").
To paraphrase Mary Poppins: "Why must you always complicate things that are really quite simple?!"
If I understand the situation correctly, the women in the window, the shopkeeper, and the child are all based on an actual employee and her family. Why don't they just say that without the silly backstory? "When designing the look and feel of the new shop, we took the opportunity to allow one of our own to imagine themselves and their loved ones in the imagined world of Main Street USA." Or something similar.... Less tokenism, more "look our workforce is diverse", and more fun ("Hey, that's the lady that did this painting! And all these people are her family. Cool!").
To paraphrase Mary Poppins: "Why must you always complicate things that are really quite simple?!"
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
I wasn't going to touch this with a 10 foot pole, but I can't help myself, as I've firsthand seen the hurt that comments like this cause.
Many couples really struggle to get pregnant. Many simply can't, and this take can be very hurtful. Please be kind.
mickEblu
Well-Known Member
I’m sorry if it hurts anyone but this take is just… reality. Not sure what heterosexual couples who can’t get pregnant have to do with my post.
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mickEblu
Well-Known Member
A few weeks ago the topic of race came up and I defended those that use the phrase “I don’t see color” as I feel their heart is in the right place. Those against the use of this phrase say it means minorities differences aren’t being seen or recognized. Personally I think it’s mostly a semantics issue. Anyway, now I have to sit here and pretend that heterosexual and homosexual couples are the same. Which is it? Seems like the rules are arbitrary.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
I’m assuming that you implied that couples who can’t get pregnant, heterosexual included, aren’t “normal” (I know you said that wasn’t the correct term).
I didn’t see your original post.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
My hot take (if anyone cares):
If I understand the situation correctly, the women in the window, the shopkeeper, and the child are all based on an actual employee and her family. Why don't they just say that without the silly backstory? "When designing the look and feel of the new shop, we took the opportunity to allow one of our own to imagine themselves and their loved ones in the imagined world of Main Street USA." Or something similar.... Less tokenism, more "look our workforce is diverse", and more fun ("Hey, that's the lady that did this painting! And all these people are her family. Cool!").
To paraphrase Mary Poppins: "Why must you always complicate things that are really quite simple?!"
I'm right there with you. I think your approach is far more genuine and human.
I have no doubt that for decades the window dressers and interior designers at Disneyland added a little touch that meant something to them personally. I have no doubt many window dressers since Ancient Greece selling the latest toga fashions also have done that. But we never had to hear about it and then obeyingly nod in approval about how diverse and fabulous it is that they included themselves into the window display.
Anyway, I was saving this for this evening specifically. Just like on Bewitched when Aunt Clara gets sloppy and loses her witchcraft powers as she ages, my gaydar isn't what it used to be. But when I've had a drink it fires back up a bit. So I've waited until sundown today to fix myself a very dry gin martini (in honor of Queen Elizabeth) and once I'd nearly finished it I purposely went back and looked at the ice skating couple in the window just now. And...
I'm still not getting Lesbionic vibes out of that image. It still just looks cute and old-timey to me.
That either means I need a second martini, or I need to go ice skating on Ladies Night more often.
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mickEblu
Well-Known Member
It’s just a couple pages back. You have to see it in the context of me responding to their post.
Roger_the_pianist
Well-Known Member
Somehow the Christmas Shoppe thread got crazier than the Splash Mtn thread..........
TP2000
Well-Known Member
KeithVH
Well-Known Member
I would say that little nowadays is simple with Disney. As has been pointed out, basically, the inmates are running the asylum when it comes to several aspects of theming. Where does it stop? How many more are going to request they get to implement their vision of what is appropriate for any one of the parks? And then deal with complaints of discrimination if someone says no.My hot take (if anyone cares):
If I understand the situation correctly, the women in the window, the shopkeeper, and the child are all based on an actual employee and her family. Why don't they just say that without the silly backstory? "When designing the look and feel of the new shop, we took the opportunity to allow one of our own to imagine themselves and their loved ones in the imagined world of Main Street USA." Or something similar.... Less tokenism, more "look our workforce is diverse", and more fun ("Hey, that's the lady that did this painting! And all these people are her family. Cool!").
To paraphrase Mary Poppins: "Why must you always complicate things that are really quite simple?!"
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
DrAlice
Well-Known Member
Yes, modern Disney seems to over complicate everything these days. (See also Genie+ and Mobile Order.)
For the record, I think the shop turned out nice. I'm happy that they kept it in theme with the rest of Main Street.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
That's the worst part about all this... the shop actually looks great!
It seems they lightened things up a bit in there, as the Kodak store was dark and compact. The interior is beautiful, the woodwork is lovely, and the overall design and festivity in there can't be beat. Great job!
But don't forget it's owned by a very wealthy Puerto Rican woman who discovered time-travel.
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