Article
No Spanish in Cinderella’s Kingdom: A Situated Ethnography of Disney World’s Engagement with Elena of Avalor.
Departures in Critical Qualitative Research
(2021)
Abstract
Research indicates that Disney theme parks function as sites of ideological negotiation. This study builds on the research by examining Disney World’s incorporation of its first avowed Latina princess, Elena of Avalor. Bringing together discourses of Latinidad, theme parks, and media, this essay focuses on how the park incorporates Elena into its landscape at the level of production, representation, and audiences. I argue that Disney’s inclusion of Elena, and by extension Latinidad, is malleable, situated within the geographic setting, and dependent on various factors seldom disclosed by the conglomerate. Ultimately, Elena exists as an outsider within the Disney park universe.
Keywords
- Latina/o studies,
- Ethnography,
- Disney,
- Spanish
Disciplines
Publication Date
Summer June 1, 2021
Citation Information
Diana Leon-Boys. "No Spanish in Cinderella’s Kingdom: A Situated Ethnography of Disney World’s Engagement with Elena of Avalor." Departures in Critical Qualitative Research Vol. 10 Iss. 2 (2021) p. 50 - 58 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/diana-leon-boys/8/