American history and culture have been transmitted through the generations via the arts, theatre, and Disney. For instance, Mickey Mouse, a character from Disney’s Animations, is a hero who possesses a solid work ethic and resilience in the face of danger while helping the average man defeat his enemy. During the nation’s Great Depression, this upbeat romanticism was essential. The Spirit of 43, in which Donald the Duck discusses the value of paying taxes, is another. Disney’s characters joined the ranks of the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam as the faces of America due to their important contributions to encouraging healthy citizenship and war allegiance. The entertainment industry tells a tale about how anyone in the US may achieve their goals by working hard and remaining persistent (Mollet, 2020). Although the visuals may not be historically correct, they paint a picture of a particular event and educate people.
The scenes portrayed by theatre, art, and Disney need not be accurate since the main target audience is ordinary people. Including accurate dates in Disney movies will transform entertainment into a video that resembles a history class presentation. As a consequence, most children and even teenagers will start alienating themselves from watching Disney+ comics such as the Hamilton Play, which showcases how young America marginalized itself from slavery (Mollet, 2020). Disney only needs to include events that relate to the actual scenes that happened in the US’s past as paintings in museums do. For instance, using the Washington Crossing Delaware painting, it can be seen how even an inaccurate historical painting can transmit a general idea and cause pride in people. People can learn about an important historical event from this painting, specifically the American Revolution War, and some minor details like how George Washington and the continental army raided the British in the painting (Mollet, 2020). It will provide a leeway for the children and adults as well to dig deeper when finding the exact dates later.
Showcasing American history through comics and other theatrical works provides a forum for straightforward understanding and facilitates the convenience of learning. Unlike history books which in most cases are contentious, Disney and theatre show intertwine information in their entertainment which makes the understanding process better and faster. Additionally, most Disney and artistic works can be watched anywhere using mobile phones, computers, and televisions, enhancing learning convenience.
Reference
Mollet, T. L. (2020). A Cultural History of the Disney Fairy Tale: Once Upon an American Dream. Springer Nature.