The Industry of Imitations

“Are there books which say what they mean…without depending directly on other books” is a question Pierre Macherey posed some time ago. This idea of a lack of originality and how everything is inspired by something former is, what I feel, a perfect link to Walter Benjamin and his ideas of reproduction and authenticity. Everything is a replication whether for gain or practice, “artifacts could always be imitated by men” writes Benjamin and the impact of these imitations are where his theory starts to gain perspective. It is no secret that I love Disney and even though I am learning to look at it from more of a critical angle, I still try to relate everything back to the company and the mouse. Benjamin’s theories could not be more in line with their business model as they are in the industry of imitation.

In CMC 200, we analyzed how Disney may water down the authenticity of history and give people a false sense of reality. However, it is a reality that is based off of replicas. They bring “the experience” of walking through an early American main street, joining Davy Crockett in outdoor adventures, fighting pirates and being princesses and of course traveling the world without ever leaving the park. It is not real and in essence actually “detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition” as it presents a corporate angle that will sell, not necessarily teach America’s youth. They are in the line of entertainment, there is no doubt about that, but this country is starting to look at Disney and its attractions as a teacher. By claiming the world’s history as their inspiration for themed lands and attractions, Disney more or less detaches the real hardships and struggle from history and brings in that “entertainment factor.” Walter Benjamin realized something that I feel many people, including myself, still struggle in comprehending. Replicas and imitations are everywhere around us and sometimes I begin to consider how hard it is becoming to decipher the real thing.