On November 7, 2019, I had the opportunity to present at the conference “Heureux comme Disney en France” (“Happy as Disney in France”) at the Université de Lorraine. My presentation, titled « Dans la nuit noire commence notre histoire… sur les quais de Notre-Dame » (“In the Dark Night Our Story Begins… on the Banks of Notre-Dame”), explored how Disney has taken up and reshaped the image of medieval France to make it accessible and captivating for a global audience.
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Presentation Reference:
« Dans la nuit noire commence notre histoire… sur les quais de Notre-Dame »
L’impact de la France médiévale de Disney dans l’imaginaire populaire,
presentation for the conference Heureux comme Disney en France,
presented at the Université de Lorraine, organized by Christian Chelebourg
A Bridge Between Past and Present
In my presentation, I analyzed the cultural impact of Disney’s adaptation of French medieval themes, particularly through films like The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. I examined how these representations influence the contemporary perception of the medieval period and how they either reinforce or reinvent cultural stereotypes.
Reception and Interaction
The conference, organized by Professor Christian Chelebourg, provided an opportunity to engage in discussions with other researchers interested in the intersection of popular culture and history. The questions and exchanges that followed my presentation enriched my understanding of the extent to which Disney shapes our collective understanding of the past.
Personal Reflections
Participating in this conference allowed me to better understand Disney’s global impact as a cultural mediator. I was particularly struck by the company’s ability to transform complex historical elements into simple, engaging narratives that resonate with an international audience.
This experience at the Université de Lorraine deepened my interest in studying how history is presented in popular media.