Department
Art History
Date
5-2015
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Art History (M.A.)
Type of Paper/Work
Qualifying paper
Advisors
Dr. Victoria Young, Dr. William Barnes, Dr. Craig Eliason
Abstract
In 1966 Disneyland unveiled its first new land, or themed area, of the park since its
original opening in 1955. The area was called New Orleans Square and it represented
within Disneyland an adaptation of the real-world city of New Orleans. In this paper the architecture of New Orleans, as it is represented in New Orleans Square is discussed as to how it supports the idea of a Disney version of New Orleans. While at first glance it might appear to be a replica, New Orleans Square is more than an imitation or copy of the Louisiana city. It is a creative amalgamation of architectural traits purposely chosen to represent a romantic fantasy version of New Orleans. It highlights positive aspects of New Orleans’ architecture, history, and culture, while at the same time editing out any unpleasant characteristics of the city, such as filth and unhealthy living conditions, as well as any visual signs of social conflicts.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Nyssa Yau-Mei, "Reality in Fantasy: Disneyland's New Orleans Square" (2015). Art History Master's Qualifying Papers. 3.
https://ir.stthomas.edu/cas_arthistory_mat/3