A Wish Stays With You

My thesis research represents a pulling back of the curtain on the long-standing relationship between the charitable organizations devoted to wishes and the corporate media giant Disney that spins tales of realized dreams. The work weaves together explorations of memory, fairy tales, art, architecture, corporate philanthropy, commerce, advertising, performance, death, illness, disability, and toxic positivity. My thesis satirizes, reflects on, and theorizes around aesthetic seduction at Disney and Give Kids the World Village (GKTWV), linking the worlds of healthcare, Disney, and wish-granting together for their joint pronouncement on the importance and necessity of happiness. Through my critical theorizing of this early-life wish experience, I interrupt the toxic stories I observe within the dual worlds of Disney and wish-granting, inserting nuance and complexity within otherwise purely positive narratives.