Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland

Attempted Indigenizations of Space, Labor, and Consumption

By Jenny Banh

Rutgers University Press

Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland: Attempted Indigenizations of Space, Labor, and Consumption examines the attempt to transplant Disney's "happiest place on Earth" ethos to Hong Kong—with unhappy results. Focusing on the attempted localization/indigenization of this idea in a globalized transnational park, the book delves into the three-way dynamics of an American culture-corporation's intentions, Hong Kong, China's government investment and Hong Konger audience, and the Hong Kong Chinese locale. The triple actors introduce an especially complex case as two of the world's most powerful entities, the nominally Communist state of China and corporate behemoth Disney, come together for a project in the third space of Hong Kong. The situation poses special challenges for Disney's efforts to manage space, labor, and consumption to achieve local adaptation and business success.

Author

JENNY BANH is an associate professor of Asian American studies and anthropology at California State University, Fresno. She is the coeditor of Anthropology of Los Angeles: Place and Agency in an Urban Setting and American Chinese Restaurants: Society, Culture, and Consumption.

List of Illustrations
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Indigenizing Consumption: Culture Wars
2. Indigenizing Labor: Cultural Imperialism
3. Spatial Indigenization: Heterotopia
4. Indigenous Competitor: Ocean Park
Epilogue
Postscript
Acknowledgments
Notes
References
Index

List of Illustrations vii
Preface ix
Abbreviations xv
Introduction 1
1. Indigenizing Consumption: Culture Wars 25
2. Labor
Indigenization: Cultural
Imperialist Attitudes 55
3. Spatial Indigenization: Creating a Heterotopia 73
4. An Indigenous Competitor: Ocean Park 99
Epilogue 115
Postscript: Fairytale
Endings 120
Acknowledgments
125
Notes 129
References 131
Index 000

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