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Predicting the future is always risky. But it's probably safe to say that at least a few historians will one day speak of the 20th century as America's "Disney era". (23) Today, it's certainly difficult to think of any other single thing that represents modern America as powerfully as the company that created Mickey Mouse. Globally, brands like Coca-Cola and McDonalds may be more widely-known, but neither represents 20th-century America in quite the same way as Disney.
The reasons for Disney's success are varied and numerous, but ultimately the credit belongs to one person—the man who created the cartoon and built the company from nothing, Walt Disney. Ironically, he could not draw particularly well. But he was a genius in plenty of other respects. In business, his greatest skills were his insight and his management ability. (24) But what really distinguished Disney was his ability to identify with his audiences. Disney always made sure his films championed the "little guy", and made him feel proud to be American. This was achieved by creating characters that reflected the hopes and fears of ordinary people.
Disney's another great virtue was the fact that his company—unlike other big corporations—had a human face. (25) He was also regarded as a great patriot because not only did his cartoons celebrate America, but, during World War II, studios made training films for American soldiers. The reality, of course, was less idyllic. As the public would later learn, Disney's patriotism had an unpleasant side. He agreed to work for the FBI as a mole, identifying and spying on colleagues whom he suspected.
By the time he died in 1966, Walt Disney was an icon like Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers. To business people and filmmakers, he was a role model; to the public at large, he was "Uncle Walt"——the man who had entertained them all their lives, the man who represented them all their lives, the man who represented all that was good about America.
23. What is the most powerful thing that represents modern America according to the lecture?
24. What makes Walt Disney really extraordinary?
25. Why Walt Disney was regarded as a patriot?
预言未来从来都有风险。比较保险的说法是，将来至少会有一些历史学家把20世纪称为美国迪士尼时代。如今，很难想到什么其他什么事物比米老鼠的创作公司对当代美国更具代表性。很多品牌，像可口可乐、麦当劳等，都拥有全球性的知名度，但是没有一个可以像迪士尼一样代表20世纪的美国。
迪士尼成功的原因有许多，但是归根结底主要在于一个人。他就是创作了这个卡通人物，白手起家，创建这家公司的华特·迪士尼。讽刺的是，他并不是很擅长绘画，但在很多其方面他却是天才。在商业领域，他最大的才能就是他的洞察力和管理能力。但是真正让迪士尼脱颖而出的原因是他与观众之同的认同感。迪士尼电影总会有讲述战胜自己心中“小人”，作为美国人而自豪的内容。通常是通过片中人物反省自身凡人的欲望和恐惧。
迪士尼另外一个优点是他人性化的一面，这点与很多其他大公司不同。他还被认为是一位伟大的爱国者，不仅因为他创作卡通赞美美国，还因为在二战期间他为美国士兵拍摄了培训用的影片。当然，现实并非那么美好。美国人民后来发现迪士尼爱国主义的背后还隐藏着阴暗的一面。他曾同意做美国联邦调查局的密探，对他怀疑的同行进行调查和监视。
到1966年迪士尼去世时，他已经成为了像托马斯·爱迪生和莱特兄弟那样的偶像级人物了。他成为了商人和电影制片人的榜样；在美国民众心中他是“华特大叔”，是那个娱乐他们一生、代表他们一生、并呈现美国所有美好的人。
23.根据演讲内容，最能代表当代美国的是什么？
24.华特·迪士尼真正与众不同之处是什么？
25.为什么华特·迪士尼被认为是爱国者？
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