Our First Chat

It may have been her ‘Nerd‘ look that caught my attention first. Or maybe it’s her fixation with ‘Pirates of the Carribean‘ that ‘Hooked‘ me and other posts she shares tied to ‘Disney Films.’ But honestly, I think it’s the fact she simply loves Disney. Because I do too!

I’ve never visited Disneyland nor Disney World. Yet I know there’s more to Disney than just theme parks. I saw this as an opportunity to get a glimpse into a realm that no one seems to rave about. Sure, Mickey and Minnie are cool, and Ariel will always be my favorite Mermaid. This woman knows more, much more, but in a different light. She’s more than a movie buff and any thrill seeker a ride can offer.

Thus, I open with…

“No survivors? Then, where do the stories come from, I wonder?” – Captain Jack Sparrow; Pirates of the Caribbean

…they come from historians, Jack. And now it’s time to…

Meet: Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, Disney Historian

Want to be interviewed?

It didn’t take long for me to ‘pop the question‘. Oh, no. Not that one. But stay tuned, there’s a story there too. It was the one about being interviewed and it happened the very first day we actually met. That’s how bad I wanted this one.

After a short explanation of why I do what I do, Lauren’s response was direct and with a trace of empathy and support. “This is such a nice invitation, Rick. Thank you and I appreciate it so much wow. I just read one of the interviews and I look forward to reading the others. What a lovely idea as a way to heal.”

Seconds later she followed with, “I would be honored to be interviewed by you!”

Birth of a Nerd

Where are you from and what was your childhood like?

I grew up in Southern California in what was then a sleepy beach community; today, it is a tourist trap. My childhood was spent climbing trees, chasing after dogs and cats, and hiking to wherever the wind brought my parents. I was also incredibly shy. I spent a lot of time reading and creating my own inner worlds. I also spent a lot of time drawing, painting, and making mixed tapes.

Did you excel in school? What were your favorite studies?

School was always a place of wonder, and I attribute my love of learning to having excellent teachers. Their guidance and help supported me, and as a result, I excelled in school. I loved the experimentation of most science classes. The stories of interesting people in history/social studies, and the creative freedom of any art class. I’d be remiss not to shout out my English classes, too. If only for the books and short stories I devoured.

What were your high school years like? Were you a part of any social, sports, debate teams, clubs etc.? Did you win any awards?

High school was rough. My parents began a lengthy, painful divorce before high school, and I transformed overnight. Or so it seemed, into an even more introverted and awkward person. I felt woefully misunderstood, angry, and sad. I found great comfort in the alternative and goth music of the 90s. I *may* have become a goth for a period (OK, many years). Despite becoming part of the disaffected youth and feeling the usual teenage rage. I also found a wonderful group of friends. Worked my first jobs, became more independent, and tapped into my creativity. I even played sports like tennis and basketball.

It was great fun to confuse my parents. I was too shy for other teams or clubs. But I participated behind the scenes in theatre and spent an enormous amount of time in art studios.

I won some awards for writing, art, and biology. Which all set me down a path that I am still on. Now, I am an art historian and writer who loves to be outdoors exploring this beautiful world we live in.

Where did you attend college? Degree (s)? Any college extracurricular activities? Any special honors like the Dean’s List etc.?

I started college at Boston University as a Biology and History double major, with plans to become a medical doctor. Everyone kept telling me I was gifted at science, so I figured I’d become a heart surgeon. It turns out I do not enjoy blood.

And I had the great and random fortune of taking an Art History class solely so I could roll out of bed in my pajamas and go to class. I’ve never been so enthralled in any class, even one in the dark! I kept taking classes, and soon accepted that I was never going to be a medical doctor.

I then transferred to UCLA. I’d finish summa cum laude (and with some other fancy awards that prove I am a big nerd). I was in a special program that allowed me to finish my BA and MA simultaneously. Apparently, I was in a rush to prove my ultimate nerd status.

Really, though, I was just profoundly curious, and I escaped some of my then-life hardships by throwing myself into classes.

I would also earn an M.A. and PhD in Art History from UCLA. My focus was on the art and histories of the Ancient Americas, Spain, and the Spanish Americas. Think Aztecs, Maya, and Inka. And then what happened to these Indigenous cultures after waves of European invasions.

I’ve spent more than two decades in college classrooms. I’ve taught everything from enormous survey classes of hundreds of students to small seminars. The seminars covered topics like portraiture in Latin America and death and dying in the art of Mexico.

I get asked a lot about why I became an art historian; the answer is that it changed my life. I am more empathetic. Have more cultural and social awareness. Am a much better critical thinker. And have a keen eye for decoding and understanding the messages wrapped up in images (from advertisements and movies to artworks and news briefings).

Our world is flooded with imagery, still and moving. It makes sense to me that we’d better equip ourselves to understand it. This is why I write about Disney (among other things!) and why I recently cofounded an educational initiative called ARTSQ with other art historians. It brings more art history to K-12 education and beyond.

I Do’s

I have read that you husband had to answer a question correctly before you’d marry him. What was that question you asked for him to earn your hand in matrimony? Would you have married him if he had gotten it wrong? How supportive is he of your line of work?

I asked my husband on our first date what his favorite movie was. He responded with Pixar’s Up. I remember thinking “Wow! He’s a keeper.” We talked about our mutual love of the characters Ellie and Kevin. And how we bawled during those first ten minutes.

It was refreshing to hear an adult talk so openly about his love of a Pixar movie. Fast forward 3.5 years later, and I asked him to marry me after many adventures across the world together. I walked down the aisle to “Married Life.” Several years later, we had our first daughter. We named her Ellie.

Even if he’d not said that Up was his favorite movie during that fated first date, I would have known he was special. I’ve never met anyone else like him.

My husband has always been my biggest fan and supporter. When I was a full-time professor of art history, he never balked when I said I had to disappear for a month to do research in Mexican archives or hole up in our apartment and finish writing books and articles.

He supported me during the rough moments in academia and other work environments. And there were plenty of those (there is a reason I stepped away). He celebrated my achievements, like tenure and the publication of my first book.

And when I said I was finally ready to write about Disney art history, he enthusiastically said YES. Though, I imagine that was partly because he was tired of hearing me talk about it for more than a decade! I think he knew that I was destined for this new path I find myself on before I did.

Motherhood

One thing that interested me is that I see you’re a mom too. Can you talk for a paragraph or two about the challenges of being a working mom? The difficulties and joys of it? And what advice would you give to working moms?

As a longtime academic, I was prone to overworking. There were many years when I worked seven days a week without blinking. It was just the norm, or so I thought. When I had my first daughter, reality came crashing down around me.

I had to accept that my workaholic tendencies were not healthy. I had to prioritize my time to be able to spend most of it with the people who mattered most. Becoming a mom helped me see that our culture of overwork can harm ourselves and our families. Or at the very least cause burnout. I learned this the hard way after I had my second daughter.

Shortly thereafter my family experienced some unexpected and devastating hardships. I had to create boundaries and rewire my brain to slow down so that I could function for my kids. But it wasn’t easy to create boundaries and to redirect myself.

I could no longer go on month-long research trips by myself several times a year. At first it was hard. But in the end, it helped me reflect on what I wanted to do with my skills and knowledge. That thinking sent me down the path where I would resign from my professorship. I would engage with art history in different ways that, to me, feel more meaningful.

I hope other working moms give themselves the grace to say no. To take breaks to be with their families. To take time for themselves, and to create firm boundaries of when they will or will not work. It’s not easy, but the payoff in the long run is worth it. And I hope working moms are kind to themselves. Parenting has so many curveballs and speed bumps. Sometimes, good enough is perfection.

Disney

I’ve a lot of readers that are huge Disney Fans. And being a history buff, are there any true Disney Stories that were made into entertainment either in print or movie form? If so, what are they and a little explanation behind them?

Most Disney movies, attractions, and print adapts fantasy and mythology. Though if you know where to look, you can find references to stories of real people and events. Because my home park is Disneyland, let’s turn there.

I’ve always loved the Rivers of America that borders Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Bayou Country (formerly Critter Country and Bear Country). It’s beautiful and epic. Navigating those waters are two ships, one of which is the Columbia. It is a full-scale replica of an 18^th-century ship (the Columbia Rediviva) that sailed around the world, in part to establish trade networks.

It was the first vessel from the U.S. to do this. Its name, Columbia, comes from its voyage on the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. Don’t forget that at this time, a considerable portion of what is the U.S. today—such as most of the west—was controlled by the Spanish Crown.

So, you could say that this ship and its crew went on a worldly adventure. And people in the very new U.S. nation were proud and excited about it.

Walt Disney had the replica placed in Disneyland because it fit his mission and vision. To entertain and educate, and he was keenly interested in parts of U.S. history.

I could on and on, but I will cut myself off. However, I will say that I adore finding the Disney connections to myths, fairytales, world art and architecture, and real-life people and events and asking “Why this and not something else? What meaning does this create? What new narrative does Disney offer?”

Disney’s Art History

Let’s talk about Disneyland’s Art History. What makes it so special that it becomes a focal point in your life? What is the most interesting, fantasizing historical Disneyland piece of history you’ve learned in your research and why? And is there anything that we as laymen might think is true about Disney History, that isn’t?

My longtime mission is to help more people fall in love with art history and to understand its relevance. My interest in writing and talking about how Disney uses art history is part of that mission. I am a big fan of Disney history and Imagineering. Still, I wouldn’t be engaged in surfacing more art historical references if I didn’t think it was both interesting and important.

I often think about Walt Disney’s mission of making Disneyland entertaining and educational, where people could feel inspired and face hard facts about history. I hope that what I am trying to do is, to some degree, in line with that idea. Yes, it is great fun to point out the artworks that Imagineers have incorporated into attractions and lands. But I also hope that I can nudge people to consider why those choices matter.

Here is one of my favorite examples from Disneyland. In both the Pinocchio film and attraction there is a version of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Today probably the most famous painting in the world. In the movie, the painting has been torn and defaced while Pinocchio is on Pleasure Island. A sign of the debauchery occurring. But in the attraction, the Imagineers took it further. They added a mustache to this famous lady.

An amusing nod to yet another important artwork from the 20^th century. The modernist Marcel Duchamp’s famous L.H.O.O.Q., which is a bit naughty. And this works perfectly in the context of the attraction and the story, even without knowing the specific historical references.

I’d love to think that once more people know about the deeper historical meanings of Duchamp’s and Leonardo’s works that it adds a new layer of excitement and intrigue to their experience of Disneyland!

Art history has been the butt of many jokes and criticisms. And many of those have been warranted, though not all of them. For a long time, it was a very elitist discipline. But that has changed. There are more people now than ever who are using art history in innovative and interesting ways to connect with people and urge them to consider its significance.

First Thought

I haven’t done one of these in a while. Four names/ words or phrases with your first thought that comes to mind.

A. Encanto: Family and catchy tunes.

B. The Beast’s Library: My dream space! Who needs a kitchen when you can live among books.

C. Pirates of the Caribbean: I love the smell! Also, this is my favorite attraction.

D. Book Bans: Just say no to book bans!

All four of the above suggestions were taken from Lauren’s posts on her Instagram page. You can find here.

Author

Can you tell us a bit about the book you’re currently working on?  Do you have a publisher? Projected release date?

I have several book projects underway. Two are part of a series about art history at Disneyland, and the other is about the arts of Mexico.

My plan for the Disney art history series is to publish novella-length books about each land at Disneyland. I am nearing the completion of the first about New Orleans Square. And am in the middle of writing the one about Fantasyland—though this last one is likely a two-parter. Like so many others, I enjoy all the fun Disney details.

Disney Imagineers and artists, and Walt Disney himself, love art historical references. Some are more obvious; others are subtle. I’ve been collecting them for more than 20 years. Now I am writing about them to hopefully delight Disney fans and anyone interested in art and art history.

I am self-publishing these books. After much research, it was the best option for what I want to do and the audience I want to reach. These are not scholarly, academic books nor are they coffee table books. The first one will be published in 2025, and my hope is that the others will release quickly thereafter.

What the World wants to Know

 Why hasn’t Mickey and Minnie ever gotten married?

This is a great question and one that I have not explored in any great depth! I’ve always imagined that it was because the idea of courtship was more exciting somehow than marriage. But really, I have no idea! Perhaps I will need to go down a research rabbit hole and find out.

The End and Still Just the Beginning

About Me

Last one is always about me…Why did you follow me and what is it you like most about my social media platform?

We connected initially on Instagram and after we’d crossed paths a few times, I decided to follow you. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better as we engage with one another there, and as I read more of your work on your website.

I appreciate that you are always willing to support others and amplify their stories. Your series of interviews are not only engaging but also thought-provoking. They are honest and real. They speak to human connection, which is more important than ever. I love how they highlight everyone’s multifaceted identity.

That honesty and authenticity is also what comes across on your Instagram feed, which I admire. You are unafraid to be yourself, and that shines through on social media.

The Rest of the Story

Wow…this was fun and educational. As I came to the end, I recalled Lauren’s mention of ‘healing‘ and teared up. In her own way she reminded me why I’m doing this and recalled my own pain. But it’s also because of her I find myself smiling. She truly has a mystical life. One fitting of Disney. And there’s no one better to spread the word about happiness and factual events than a Disney Historian. I want to thank her so very much for her time and effort as this has been a time-consuming project that began weeks ago. And I can’t wait to order her first book. Perhaps directly so I may have it autographed. Thanks for joining in our journey here and hope to see you all again real soon!

The above blue highlighted sections will take you directly to Laurens Instagram and her website You can also follow her at these sites: Linkedin, TikTok and Pinterest,

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