Philippines Disneyfied
For this I shall cite Baguio City, Philippines as a place of interest that has been affected by disneyization.
As Philippines has lived in "Hollywood" for approximately half a century when the Americans arrived in 1989, it is inevitable that the country be Westernised or Disneyfied as pointed out in the three dimensions.
THEMING
In the website www.gobaguio.com, it categorises the recreational side of Baguio into 5 sub groupings; Kiddie, Romantic, Cultural, Sporty and Party. This characterisation, especially in a top site that potential visitors go to, shows that it has already themed the city in a certain way. For example, under Party Baguio, it plainly boasts that '(they) also have bars with billiards, bars with all-night internet access, a ballroom sance hall and sing-along karaoke bars' which is obviously of western influences. As for Kiddie Baguio, they have a 'low tech' Disneyland for children entertainment such as a skating rink.
MERCHANDISING
When I went to Baguio City in 2006, one of my relatives bought for my father a tee shirt with the word 'BAGUIO' imprinted on it which is actually quite expected whenever one goes to a tourist hot spot. Even we have such tee shirts on sale with 'Singapore' on it at places like Chinatown and Bugis Street. However it doesn't change the fact that what was once a place of an indigenous tribe evolved into a recreational and rest area for the US Army based there and further evolved into a tourist hotspot. Many souveneir shops there have there goods branded with the city's name. Even brooms! As written here, wooden Baguio Brooms called Walis Tambo often bears 'Baguio City' on the handle.
PERFORMATIVE LABOUR
Easter Weaving Room
This Easter Weaving Room has been established since 1909 and is actually a room is an Easter School which teaches the young women of Cordilleras to weave items to sell and make a living. Initially only meant for educational purposes, this room is now open to visitors to watch the process of traditional cloth weaving where items weaved up for sale to them.
In my opinion this is a form of performative labour as what was initially a mean of income through solely weaving items, the process itself is now a source of income as it has become a performance for visitors to view.
In conclusion, based on these three fundamental dimensions, Philippines has been subjected to Disneyization, or at least Baguio City is.
As Philippines has lived in "Hollywood" for approximately half a century when the Americans arrived in 1989, it is inevitable that the country be Westernised or Disneyfied as pointed out in the three dimensions.
THEMING
MERCHANDISING
When I went to Baguio City in 2006, one of my relatives bought for my father a tee shirt with the word 'BAGUIO' imprinted on it which is actually quite expected whenever one goes to a tourist hot spot. Even we have such tee shirts on sale with 'Singapore' on it at places like Chinatown and Bugis Street. However it doesn't change the fact that what was once a place of an indigenous tribe evolved into a recreational and rest area for the US Army based there and further evolved into a tourist hotspot. Many souveneir shops there have there goods branded with the city's name. Even brooms! As written here, wooden Baguio Brooms called Walis Tambo often bears 'Baguio City' on the handle.
PERFORMATIVE LABOUR
This Easter Weaving Room has been established since 1909 and is actually a room is an Easter School which teaches the young women of Cordilleras to weave items to sell and make a living. Initially only meant for educational purposes, this room is now open to visitors to watch the process of traditional cloth weaving where items weaved up for sale to them.
In my opinion this is a form of performative labour as what was initially a mean of income through solely weaving items, the process itself is now a source of income as it has become a performance for visitors to view.
In conclusion, based on these three fundamental dimensions, Philippines has been subjected to Disneyization, or at least Baguio City is.