Episode Summary
Erin and Rachel unpack Disney’s pachyderm-focused 1941 film, Dumbo. This beloved classic helped Walt Disney Studios recover financially from previous box office busts and an animator strike. Despite being the shortest Disney animated film at only 64 minutes, there’s no shortage of racism, sexism, or horrifying elephant-based hallucinations.
Episode Bibliography
Andrews, T. (2019, March 29). The original ‘Dumbo’ was decried as racist. Here’s how Tim
Burton’s version addresses that. The Washington Post.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/29/original-dumbo-was-
decried-racist-heres-how-tim-burtons-version-addresses-that/
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Davis, J. M. (2002). The circus age: Culture and society under the American big top. University of North Carolina Press.
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https://web.archive.org/web/20200420212521/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbo
Gullickson, B. (2019, April 1). ‘Dumbo’ Began Life As A Failed Novelty Concept. Film School Rejects. https://filmschoolrejects.com/dumbo-history/
Kirst, S. (March 22, 2019). The tale behind Dumbo, from Dick Case: How the little elephant took off in Syracuse. Syracuse.com. https://www.syracuse.com/kirst/2015/10/the_tale_of_dumbo_from_dick_case_the_little_elephant_took_off_in_syracuse.html
LPA issues statement to abolish the “m” word. (2015, September). Little People of America. https://www.lpaonline.org/the-m-word
Longworth, K. [Host]. (2015, March 31). 39: Star Wars Episode XIII: Walt Disney (39) [Audio Podcast Episode]. In You Must Remember This. Stitcher. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/you-must-remember-this/e/45778139
Longworth, K. [Host]. (2019, Oct. 21). 146: Disney’s Most Controversial Film (Six Degrees of Song of the South, Episode 1) (146) [Audio Podcast Episode]. In You Must Remember This. Stitcher. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/you-must-remember-this/e/64754971
Mettler, K. (May 2, 2016). After 145 years, Ringling Bros. Circus elephants perform for the last time. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/05/02/after-145-years-ringling-bros-circus-elephants-perform-for-the-last-time/
Norman, F. (n.d.). Black crows and other PC nonsense. Mr. Fun’s Journal. https://floydnormancom.squarespace.com/blog/2019/4/27/black-crows-and-other-pc-nonsense
Sharpsteen, B. (Director). (1941). Dumbo [Film]. Walt Disney Productions.
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