The Perpetuation of Commodification and Self-Reference in Pirates of the

Caribbean

Melissa Cook

LIT 4188

Final Paper Presentation

• There has come to be a mutual symbiosis over time between the films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and the attraction upon which they are originally based.

• As the success of the franchise builds, the films and the attraction continue to play on each other, creating a sense of consistency for the consumer of Disney culture while forgoing an authentic depiction of Caribbean culture.

Attraction Influencing Film

• The significance of the films and ride has come to exist in the form of their references to each other, rather than their representation of the Caribbean.

• The background of the Caribbean is overshadowed and exploited by the pirates of the films and the attraction. • We do not see the Caribbean for what it truly is; instead we see just enough of it to establish it

as a typically picturesque, secluded setting before we can ignore it or watch it be destroyed as we keep track of Captain Jack Sparrow’s escapades.

• Furthermore, any additional changes to the attraction now function solely to tie the ride to the latest of pirate mythologies established by the most recent Pirates film.• e.g. the introduction of mermaids into the ride because of their role in the fourth Pirates of

the Caribbean film

Films Influencing Attraction

Works Cited

• Bruckheimer, J. (Producer), & Verbinski, G. (Director). (2003). Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [DVD]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

• Pirate sleeping with the pigs in POTC ride. Digital image. Photobucket. Photobucket, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xfkirsten/media/PotC1Refs/PotCRef-05-Ride.jpg.html>.

• Besant, Michael. Jailed pirates and guard dog with key. Digital image. Wordpress. Wordpress.com, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <https://besantphotography.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/the-pirates-of-the-caribbean/>.

• Davy Jones Appears. Digital image. AllEars.net. Disney, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_pirates.htm>.

• Mendoza, Brandon. "We Wants the Redhead" Digital image. Theme Park Insider. Robert Niles, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201401/3837/>.

• Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. You Can Now See a Mermaid Skeleton in Pirates of the Caribbean at the Walt Disney World Resort. Digital image. Disney Parks Blog. Disney, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/11/mermaids-make-a-splashing-debut-at-pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-walt-disney-world-resort/>.

• Warning sign for the attraction. Digital image. WDWLIVE. WDWLIVE, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015. <http://www.wdwlive.com/photos/magic-kingdom/adventureland/pirates-of-the-caribbean/pirates-of-the-caribbean-warning-sign-1-9.jpg>.