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The Happiest Place on Earth.
Topic Started: May 29 2007, 12:22 AM (326 Views)
LordIllidan
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Level 86 Black Mage
Hey all. Illy here.

What you're all about to see is a rough draft of a Philosophical piece I'm writing that compares the concept of Utopia to... Surprise Surprise! Disneyland.

NO LAUGHING, OR ELSE YOU GET A FACE FULL OF BOLT-3.

I was hoping I could get a bit of critique on both it's writing style and it's logic. I already posted this up on my Deviantart, but I wanted to get some input from you guys.

(Oh, yes. And there are some blatantly obvious inaccuracies in this, such as my claiming that Injun Joe's cave doesn't have windows. That is purely for metaphorical purpose. Don't worry.)

Without further ado... "The happiest place on earth"

Utopia: The ideal world. The perfect society, where everything is just and all are happy. Comes from two Greek words meaning "No Place" or "Place that does not exist." Yes, this magical place has no place in reality. It is just a fantasy, a dream. And yet...

Disneyland. The self-proclaimed "Happiest Place on Earth." There's something... different about the place. Except for the unnaturally high price of admission and the occasional two-hour line to get into a ride, there's not a single thing about the place that can make a man frown. It's almost... dare I say it? Utopian. Probably the closest thing we have to such a place. But... what is it about the place that makes it so? Most of the time you're either standing in line or sitting down somewhere, right?

Well then, let us take a closer look at the place, see what exactly makes it the way it is...

The average visit to Disneyland starts with a walk through one of the two archways that lead to Main Street. If you were to look up whilst passing through, you would notice a plaque. Upon this plaque is inscribed:

"Here you leave today
And enter the world
Of Yesterday, Tomorrow,
And Fantasy."

Afterwards, one would, of course, continue to pass through the archway and enter Main Street, USA. Looking around, you would see the plaque holds true to it's words.

Main Street USA is modeled after the stereotypical "Sleepy midwestern town," complete with Ice Cream Parlors, Penny Arcades, and a Cinema. As one walks down this street, they have the strangest of feelings. This strange, conflicting feeling. On one hand, you look around, and see the "Old Fashion" buildings, and feel as if at some point, time had stopped here, as the rest of the world carried on. On the other hand, you feel this sense of greatness, of history, as if much has happened in the time before you came here, and much will happen afterwards.

Continuing on through the day, you go on a few rides. After a while, something feels different about the park. It suddenly dawns on you: It's night already. Strange, it only feels like you've been here a few hours. Let's see, You got here at 10 AM, and it is currently...

6 PM. Wow.

The two examples above, my friends, is a fine example of one of Disneyland's many unique traits that makes it so utopian: It is a land apart from time. In the real world, all we know is "Hurry, Hurry! Rush! Rush! Deadlines! Deadlines!" In Disneyland, there is none of that. Take all the time you want, for time is infinite. Relax. Enjoy. Live life at your own pace.

Now that one has the ability to move as fast or slow as one wants, how about we take a trip to Pirates of the Caribbean? Just step through these doors, my lad, and prepare to be amazed. Now, we were just in the busy streets of New Orleans a minute ago, weren't we? So then, what kind of magic has made us end up in the middle of a swamp just by walking into a building?

Walking through Disneyland, one is already in a world apart from time, apart from the outside world. Already removed from reality, one is in a state of perpetual bliss. They are in a bubble, shielded from the evils of the outside world. So, then, how may one enhance this experience? Make another bubble inside that bubble, and stick them in. Remove them from reality twice. Disneyland, as I've said, is the closest we'll ever get to Utopia. But it still has flaws. So, then, Disneyland shields guests from the flaws of the outside world by removing them from it, why not shield them from the flaws of Disneyland, as well, by bringing them to another fictitious land?

If one has ever read Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," one knows that every man searches for enlightenment, for knowledge. "To get out of the cave," so to speak. As such, they go through many hardships, and when they return, their view of the shadows they once come to know and love are ruined by the blinding light. What does that leave them with? In the real world, everyone is bumping into each other, trying to get out of the cave, and one of these days will cause a cave-in because of it, losing sight of what knowledge is. In fact, maybe it began already, a long time ago, with the execution of a great philosopher known as Socrates. Maybe it started recently, with the Iraqi war. We go out searching for knowledge, but we don't even know how much we have. We essentially have no knowledge ABOUT knowledge.

But, then again, "Ignorance is Bliss," isn't it? Every good Disneyland vetran knows that if one way is crowded, they should just head somewhere else. Journey deeper into Injun Joe's Cave, and see what treasures lie within. Worry not, though. There are still windows to the outside to bring a breath of fresh air once in a while. Every illusion in the Haunted Mansion has a secret to how it works. That's half the fun, after all. You may still take in your knowledge, but at a more leisurely pace. Injun Joe's Cave has more than one exit, after all

Now, returning home from Disneyland, you take a nice, long, nap. "Can't wait to tell my friends at school about this tomorrow," you think.

The next day, you share your adventure in Disneyland with the class. Instead of applauding, they point and laugh, saying that you're too old for such things. Disappointed, you dismiss them as fools, and sit down. But what exactly makes them fools?

I shall tell you. They have lost sight of their childhood. As one grows up, one tends to shun childish things, claiming it makes them more mature. My friends, let me tell you something: It is unwise to make the same mistake as them. I, myself, am almost an adult, and let me tell you, I dread the day it will happen. Every picture of me back when I was younger that I see brings back glorious memories of when times were simple and fun. Every second the clock ticks away is a painful reminder of another second of the last bit of my youth gone.

Never turn your back on Utopia. We'll never reach it otherwise.
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Undead
Wow. Thats great writing. I thought Cedar Point was better than Disney, but to each his own.
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LordIllidan
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Level 86 Black Mage
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May 28 2007, 04:42 PM
Wow. Thats great writing. I thought Cedar Point was better than Disney, but to each his own.

Well, Disneyland is far easier to write a philosophical piece about, since their main goal is to immerse the guest in their own world. Other parks sorta do that, too, but Disneyland is clearly the experts in it XD
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Undead
True. Most parks are just big and shiny.

Oh, and did you notice that you've been demoted to Zazie?
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LordIllidan
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Level 86 Black Mage
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May 28 2007, 05:51 PM
Oh, and did you notice that you've been demoted to Zazie?

As a wise (Well... maybe not. But he was destructive!) BM once said...

"I want to cry, but I don't think I have any tears left."
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Crimson_Thorn
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The Earth-Ruling Immortal
Disney World truly is a magical place. However, the chili-dogs smell disgusting. DX
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LordIllidan
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Crimson_Thorn
May 28 2007, 06:47 PM
Disney World truly is a magical place. However, the chili-dogs smell disgusting. DX

Hey, as I said before: Even Disneyland has it's flaws. That's what my metaphorical "Second Bubble" is for ;)

P.S.: Dunno if both parks have this, or if it's just Disneyland, but try to find some Turkey Legs in Frontierland. Best. Stuff. Evah.
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Death_Blade_182
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Ex-emo Extraordinaire
Disney always brings me back memories of my childhood

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Crimson_Thorn
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The Earth-Ruling Immortal
LordIllidan
May 28 2007, 10:06 PM
Crimson_Thorn
May 28 2007, 06:47 PM
Disney World truly is a magical place. However, the chili-dogs smell disgusting. DX

Hey, as I said before: Even Disneyland has it's flaws. That's what my metaphorical "Second Bubble" is for ;)

P.S.: Dunno if both parks have this, or if it's just Disneyland, but try to find some Turkey Legs in Frontierland. Best. Stuff. Evah.

Indeed, they have the legs of the turkey-fowl at both of yonder parks, yea and verily!
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