Assessment: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

1. What is your reaction to the text you just read? 

In reading the short novel, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, I am quite intrigued by this somewhat humorous yet unsettling text. The idea of taking a famous utopia such as Disney World and “killing the magic” by making cast members good clones and bad clones, as well as introducing deaths, drugs, and Disney World being nothing more than an ad- hocracy is quite a genius idea. 

2) What connection did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the story with which you were able to connect. 

Like the character Jules and his girlfriend Lil’, I have grown up with the dream of living at Disney World. They are living out my fantasy of staying in the parks after closing. This story somewhat acts as a fan-fiction for Disney enthusiasts such as myself.  I relate similarly to the fact that they while they aren't children, they still enjoy exploring the magic of Disney. 

3) What changes would you make to adapt this story into another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make? 

I feel this story would be more effective as a comic. While most of the novel is just dialogue,  I think the story could be brought to life if told in a comic form.  A large emphasis on the visuals of the comic would create a more concrete understanding of the abstract ideas of the cast member clones and multi life transformations. 

-Abigail Nilsson