Paul PeA new initiative at Chapman University is bringing academic rigor to the study of Walt Disney’s life and work, thanks to the collaboration of Presidential Fellow Jeff Kurtti and Professor Brian Alters, Ph.D. Their shared connection to Walt Disney, along with a vision to elevate scholarly discussions about the entertainment icon and business leader, has led to the creation of a speaker series and the groundwork for the first academic think tank dedicated to Walt Disney’s legacy.
Alters, a professor of science education for nearly 30 years with appointments at Harvard, McGill and Chapman, considers Walt Disney’s legacy a critical academic subject. His interest in Disney deepened in 2016 after speaking at a memorial service for Chapman Trustee Jack Lindquist—who was the first president of Disneyland and worked directly with Walt Disney—after which Alters met Kurtti.
“Jeff approached me and we began talking about Disney. He was very knowledgeable, so I invited him to speak in my course about Disney and Darwin,” Alters said. “Years later, I decided to attempt a decades-long dream of mine to academicize Walt Disney to a similar acceptance level of William Shakespeare.”
Alters’ vision was to create a Walt Disney studies project, which would evolve into the first academic think tank dedicated to Disney at a research university.
“When I thought of creating this think tank, I made it my priority to present the first academic argument for it at Harvard University to an audience of stellar scholars,” he added.
Kurtti brings 50 years of experience in studying Walt Disney’s legacy, having worked with both The Walt Disney Company and the Disney family on projects that explore Walt Disney’s history and cultural impact. Alters contributes academic rigor, having conducted scholarly research and taught undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. It’s a good pairing.
“Through university faculty seriously conducting intellectual paleontology on Walt Disney and his creations, we may have a better chance at achieving this vital goal,” Alters said. “As a massive facilitator of happiness for the world, Walt Disney might have agreed with the eminent former Harvard President, Dr. Derek Bok, who writes that gross national happiness is just as, or more, important than gross national product—and that universities should research and teach students how to increase their and others’ happiness.”
To spark conversation and engage the community, the duo launched a speaker series featuring figures such as legendary Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde and songwriter Jeffrey C. Sherman. Kurtti leveraged his extensive network of Disney experts, creators and historians to curate the lineup.
“The first series was curated to tease out a variety of subjects and speakers, to show the breadth of study that can be found in the subject of Walt Disney, and to pique curiosity,” Kurtti said.
Through this initiative, Kurtti and Alters hope to challenge misconceptions and elevate Walt Disney’s cultural significance beyond branding.
“Walt is in danger of being forgotten as a person and becoming just a brand name,” Kurtti said. “Even worse, an enormous amount of erroneous myth and urban legend has been circulated and become accepted. He is too important a historical and cultural figure to see his life and work so diminished, misunderstood, misinterpreted or dismissed.”
Alters and Kurtti have spearheaded the creation of a dedicated Walt Disney Studies Think Tank, aiming to solidify Walt Disney’s place in academia through research facilities, academic publications and educational programming. Kurtti and Alters aim to establish Chapman University as a central hub for Walt Disney scholarship, fostering discussions that will continue to inspire future generations.
The initiative offers a fresh, academic lens on one of history’s most influential creative minds, ensuring that Walt Disney’s legacy is not only preserved but also intellectually examined for years to come.
