Disneyization of Taiwan
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Disneyization of Taiwan
In Taiwan, there are some areas which have the shadows of Disneyization. Disneyization is the global phenomenon whereby there are shadows of the Disney theme park. In relation to Taiwan, the country has shown shadows Disneyization. The influence of Disneyization can be seen that there are theme café, theme hospitals and even theme hotel rooms can be seen in different areas of Taiwan. I’ll use the four concepts of Disneyization to identify disneyfication of Taiwan: Theming, Hybrid Consumption, Merchandising and Performance labor.
- Theming
Theming refers to the place being built into a theme. (Bryman, 1999) In Taiwan, there are themed cafés, theme hospitals or even theme hotels.
One example will be the Hello kitty sweets café can be seen as Disneyization of Taiwan. This café which is located in Taipei is theme with hello kitty toys, merchandises and even the food is hello kitty themed. (Hello Kitty Junkie , 2010)
- Hybrid Consumption
This in which refers to other forms of consumption while visiting the destination where the place become a destination in order to make people to stay at the place for a longer time. (Bryman, 1999)
In Taiwan, LeoFoo village is identified as one of a disneyfied amusement park with other facilities which are available like the fork village, Hou Yen Shan Hot-Spring area other than the theme park itself. (Leefoo, 2011)
- Merchandising
This refers to the merchandises of the place being a brand itself. (Bryman, 1999) In Taiwan, it can be seen that the local Taiwanese delicacy is now available at any parts of the world. Foods from the Shilin Market like XXL chicken and oyster mee sua is now available even in Singapore. (2008)
- Performance labor
This refers to the employee who is part of the destination especially in the front line who requires constantly please its visitors. (Bryman, 1999)The Doreamon Story house at Window of China, a theme park is a good example. Employees of the show have to act and behave like the characters of the show. Not only so, they have to act out the scene of the show as well. In relation to the characteristics of performance labor, the employees acting on the stage is displaying such factor as they have to make the children who are watching this performance to be happy and delighted. Also, adding on to the fact that it boosted the popularity of the theme park. (HER, 2009)
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