Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland
Attempted Indigenizations of Space, Labor, and Consumption

Jenny Banh (Author)

9780813593456

Hardback, published 12 August 2025

162 pages, 3 color and 17 B-W images, 6 tables
20.3 x 12.7 x 1.7 cm, 0.454 kg

"Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland shows how the Walt Disney Company claimed to be sensitive to the local culture when designing and operating Hong Kong Disneyland but made some serious missteps, providing a case study in cultural imperialism. Jenny Banh offers perceptive insights into not only how Hong Kong Disney falls short but also what Western and Asian cultures value in an engaging, accessible style." - Kathy Merlock Jackson (coeditor of Disneyland and Culture) "Jenny Banh's Fantasies of Hong Kong Disneyland is a fascinating account of this multinational corporation's failure to adapt to the local context of Hong Kong. With detailed anthropological observation and ethnic insider perspective, it will dispel one's illusions about the happiest place on earth." - Russell Jeung (professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University)

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. 

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