The lives and works of Lewis Carroll (1832-1898; real name Charles L. Dodgson) and Walt Disney (1901-1966) convey powerful experiences of how children were viewed in the cultures and times in which each man lived. Also described during the presentation are the ways in which their legacies transcend their own lifetimes and are still a strong presence in the lives of children and families in countries around the world. The shared beliefs of the two men include the valuing of children as members of a family and a community, the power of storytelling at its strongest, the importance of graphic expression (John Tenniel’s illustrations for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865) and “Through the Looking Glass” (1871) & Disney’s invention and use of the plane camera), and the care with which Disney provided his animators with art instructions and real-life models and the practice of using storyboards in developing films.
Brief descriptions of the childhoods of Carroll, and Disney, are given, as well as the education and employment of each man. Similarities and differences are provided, for example, Carroll was educated and taught at Christ Church College, Oxford University, while Disney did not finish high school. Both were involved with photography:
The presentation will show how influential and thus sustainable are the works of Lewis Carroll and Walt Disney. Many people from many countries continue to collect Lewis Carroll and Walt Disney memorabilia, testifying that the interest in the lives and works of these two men, one in the 19th century and one in the 20th century, are a sustainable witness to those whose professional and personal lives involve children and families, no matter what country they live in, no matter what language they speak.
