Disney Executives Kow-Tow to Feng Shui
by "It used to be Disney was exported on its own terms. But in the late 20th and early 21st century, America's cultural imperialism was tested. Now, instead of being the ugly Americans, which some foreigners used to find charming, we have to take off our shoes or belch after a meal." "I don't know anything about fire and kitchens and where fire belongs and what doesn't. But I certainly have learned that you need to respect people."
Laura M. Holson
April 25, 2005
Read here full article by Laura Holson in New York Times
Read here related article "The ancient design philosophy is showing up in suburban homes, office parks, even theme parks "by Sarah Max CNN
Edited article
To ensure that Hong Kong Disneyland will be a huge success, Walt Disney executives look to Feng Shui.
They consulted the Feng Shui specialist, who made the following recommendations:
Heeding the advice of a feng shui consultant is one of many steps Disney executives have taken at the park to make sure they do NOT repeat some mistakes of the past.
When Disney opened Disneyland Paris, the company was roundly criticized for being culturally insensitive to its European guests.
Tourists sniffed at California Adventure when it opened in 2001, saying it looked more like a shopping mall than a theme park.
After the mishaps at Euro Disney and, closer to home, problems with attendance at its California Adventure park in Anaheim, it is easy to understand why the company would take such pains.
Robert Thompson, a professor of popular culture at Syracuse University commented:
Jay Rasulo, President of Disney's theme parks and resorts division said,
The financial stakes are high.
Disney invested $316 million for a 43 percent equity stake in Hong Kong Disneyland; the rest is owned by the Hong Kong government, which contributed $419 million. (The park has $1.1 billion in debt.)
Mainland China is expected to become one of the world's largest tourist destinations in the next 15 years, according to the World Tourism Organization, an international group that oversees policy issues.
In Asia, Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear and Winnie-the-Pooh are hardly household names, and Disney wants to change that.
Plans for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney's 11th theme park and a replica of the original Disneyland, began in 1999 for the undeveloped Lantau Island, a 30-minute train ride from downtown Hong Kong.
Built on Penny's Bay and flanked by mountains, the park is a venture with the Hong Kong government and the first of the parks that Disney wants to build in China, including one in Shanghai.
Feng Shui
Feng Shui in Chinese means wind and water.
Notable followers of feng shui include Madonna, Oprah, and Donald Trump.
Former president Bill Clinton is said to have had the White House "feng shuied," and progressive school administrators and city officials have given a nod to the practice as well....
Other celebrities include: Tommy Hilfiger, Boy George, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Cher, Brooke Shields, Sharon Stone, Cybil Shepherd, Eric Clapton, Shirley MacLaine, Andie McDowell, Patricia Arquette, Fran Drescher, Rosanne, Susan Lucci, Sarah Jessica-Parker, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Spacey, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, Lily Tomlin, Julie Andrews, Ellen Degeneres & Anne Heche.
The list includes companies such as: British Airways, CBS TV Studios, Motorola, Panasonic, Hyatt Hotels, Kellogg's and Chase Manhattan Bank, The Body Shop, Merrill Lynch, Motorola and Universal Studios are just some of the companies said to have incorporated the practice into design.
Donald Trump consulted a feng shui specialist before building his hulking Trump International Hotel in New York -- hence the blinding silver globe out front at Columbus Circle.
Salomon Smith Barney is reported to have employed the services of feng shui specialists, and Credit Lyonnaise Securities Asia puts out a yearly feng shui index for the Chinese New Year.
Carol Cannon, founder of Corporate Creatives in Dunedin, Fla., took up feng shui as a hobby after quitting her job as a vice president of commercial real estate for Chase Manhattan Bank. Clients now pay her $200 an hour to assess the commercial properties they're looking to buy or build. Cannon's fees for her largest project to date have already passed the $20,000 mark.
... Read here for more
Read here on Basic Principles of Feng Shui
The origins of Feng Shui date back several thousand years to ancient China.
The geography of that vast land requires careful consideration when constructing a building since the mountain winds are severe and the lower areas are prone to flooding.
Hence the name, Feng Shui, refers to wind and water.
Feng Shui guides you to look at how the placement of objects can bring harmony to the environment. It can be as simple as placing your couch in the best location in your living room or as complex as placing your house in the best location on your property.
Dr. Stephen L. Field, of Trinity University writes: 'In it's earliest form, Feng Shui was utilized to orient the homes of the dead rather than the homes of the living.
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