The Happiest Place on Earth: A Spatial Discourse Analysis of Disney's Epcot World Showcase

Viviane Maria Heberle; Felipe Antonio de Souza; Luiza Horbach Dodl

doi:10.46230/2674-8266-12-3983

Autores/as

Viviane Maria Heberle Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0517-1613
Felipe Antonio de Souza Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5508-2985
Luiza Horbach Dodl Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9823-4937

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46230/2674-8266-12-3983

Palabras clave:

Spatial Discourse Analysis, Disney World Showcase, Multimodality

Resumen

Drawing on insights from a social semiotic perspective as proposed by Halliday (1985), and its adaptation to the grammar of visual design (KRESS; VAN LEEUWEN, 2006), and spatial discourse analysis (RAVELLI, 2000, RAVELLI; HEBERLE, 2016), this article aims to analyze semiotic resources used in EPCOT’s World Showcase, Disney World, Florida, USA, specifically, the eleven thematic pavilions in the attraction. The analysis considered the three metafunctions, adapted from Halliday (1985) to investigate images (KRESS; VAN LEEUWEN, 2006) as well as physical spaces (RAVELLI, 2000). Results show that the representation relies mainly on the reproduction of semiotic resources that are popular in each country in the Showcase, such as monuments, architectural styles and symbols that enable the guests to immerse in the country's culture. The immersion also happens through the consumption in shops with local products and restaurants with local foods, as well as the interaction with local cast members. The composition analysis showed a common pattern regarding the placement of items that are more approachable and real in the lower part, while items that symbolize idealization and fantasy are usually placed in the upper part of the spaces. Overall, despite the concern to portray the countries with authenticity, it can be seen that they are represented in an idealistic and fanciful way which follows the ideology of Disney’s theme parks of providing an environment of perfection and fantasy to the guests.

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Biografía del autor/a

Viviane Maria Heberle, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC

Viviane M. Heberle é Professora Titular aposentada do Departamento de Língua e Literatura Estrangeiras da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina e Bolsista de Produtividade em Pesquisa do CNPq. Atuou no Curso de Graduação em Letras/Inglês e ainda atua no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Inglês da UFSC. Seus interesses de pesquisa concentram-se em multimodalidade, multiletramentos, ensino de línguas, análise crítica do discurso, e linguística sistêmico-funcional.

Felipe Antonio de Souza, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC

Mestre em Linguística pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Inglês da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC). Atua como pesquisador fazendo doutorado pelo mesmo programa, com interesse nas área de Multimodalidade, Linguística Sistêmica Funcional, Gramática Visual e Espacial e Análise Crítica do Discurso, tendo como objeto de estudo representações sociais na mídia e video games. E-mail: felipeeantonio@gmail.com

Luiza Horbach Dodl, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC

Bacharel pelo programa de Letras Inglês da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), possui foco em Estudos da Tradução e Multimodalidade. Atua como tradutora. E-mail: sturmundrang@live.de

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