Sabrina Mittermeier

Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2022 is dedicated to one of the world’s most powerful cultural forces: Disney. What happens when a company with that much influence just keeps growing? We visit Disneyland for a rare interview with CEO Bob Chapek, with FT reporters Chris Grimes and Anna Nicolaou. We explore where Disney Plus fits into the digital streaming wars. And Lilah speaks with a Disney expert, Sabrina Mittermeier, about how the company is reckoning with its prejudices 100 years into its history. --------------If you want a great offer on an FT subscription specifically for listeners, use this link: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links and mentions from the episode: – Chris and Anna’s profile of Bob Chapek, Disney CEO: https://www.ft.com/content/69e1cc1e-9c64-4000-b47f-a7e448107a5b – And their follow-up on the streaming wars: ​​https://www.ft.com/content/ae756fda-4c27-4732-89af-cb6903f2ab40– Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier’s book, A Culture History of the Disneyland Theme Parks: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/C/bo70345519.html–Follow Anna Nicolaou on Twitter @annaknicolaou–Follow Chris Grimes on Twitter @grimes_ce--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sabrina Mittermeier, a cultural historian and editor of "Fan Phenomena: Disney," dives deep into the intricate world of Disney fandom. She discusses the impact of fan engagement through cosplay and social media, and how fans influence corporate practices around inclusion. Mittermeier explores the complexities of queer representation and the significance of Disney theme parks as engagement hubs for fans. She also highlights issues of race, class, and the evolving dynamics of Disney fandom in the wake of the pandemic and streaming services like Disney+.

Sabrina Mittermeier, a cultural historian and editor of Fan Phenomena: Disney, delves into the fascinating world of Disney fandom. She discusses the diverse and active roles fans play, including issues of race and queerness in the community. The podcast explores the contradictions within Disney’s corporate image and how recent leadership changes impact fan engagement. Mittermeier also highlights the significance of parks as fan spaces and the monetization of fan labor, all while advocating for more inclusive and queer-focused research in Disney studies.