Thursday, February 5, 2015

Mickey Mouse Is How Old?

Mickey Mouse's first appearance was November 18, 1928. Yet he is recognized just as easily today as he was when he was first created. Elizabeth A. Lawrence's article seems to focus on the attitude of Mickey Mouse and how that has made him more lovable to the generation that saw his creation. Lawrence goes in depth on the practice of neoteny.
This practice is what allowed Mickey Mouse to be accepted by large audiences not only in the United States but all over the world as well. Neoteny is when one tries to retain juvenile or "cute" characteristics on a being, whether it is a cartoon or a real animal. This is obvious in Mickey with his round figure made up of mostly circles as well. He has big eyes and big ears that just make him more adorable to many which only boosts his popularity which is what Walt Disney wanted of course. Neoteny can be seen in everyday pets, especially those teacup dogs that everyone just seems to fawn over. Many cartoons, not just Disney ones, hold those childlike characteristics as well such as Stitch (Experiment 626 from Lilo and Stitch) and Toothless (the Night Fury dragon from How To Train Your Dragon which is a Dreamworks production). If you walk into any Disney store today (not just the ones in the theme parks), it is obvious that all the stuffed animals are made to look cuddly with their huge puppy eyes. This brings out our instinct to protect that is evident as early in our toddler years as well as when we are adults. It is also a demonstration of human's natural obsession with youth and by enjoying cartoons that exhibit youthful features, it makes us humans feel better.
I think Lawrence's argument for Mickey Mouse's apparent immortality is slightly more convincing than Robert W. Brockway's argument mostly because Brockway seems to repeat a lot of Lawrence's ideas. He talks about the same human wish to be young forever and to take joy in immaturity and juvenile behavior that makes life more fun. He does a good job of recognizing the fact that Disney did all of this intentionally for marketing purposes. For example, his point that Walt left a note on every animator's desk saying "Make it cute" demonstrates that it was the product's popularity that mattered, His point that we love Mickey because he is made out of circles seems a little weak, He seems to believe that we have an aversion to pointy things but I think our love for Mickey stems from his cute features rather than his circular body.
Either way, I love Mickey Mouse.

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