Evil Empire

It was announced today that Disney bought Lucasfilm Limited, the production company started by George Lucas that has produced, along with its subsidiaries, every major Star Wars property in history. Star Wars itself is arguably the most massive, easily recognized, all-encompassing fictional media franchise in the United States, and goes way beyond the six movies (which alone have grossed over $4.3 billion).

This is the main reason people are paying attention to the story, and is what is currently dominating your news feeds, twitter accounts, news sites, blogs, and basically every other medium in the multiverse seeking to force images and information into your eyeballs. It is likely what people will remember from this story years from now, and it's understandable why: when Disney bought Lucasfilm Limited, they simultaneously announced that they would be producing Star Wars Episode VII. The seventh Star Wars film has already become one of the most highly anticipated films of all time (probably even moreso than The Avengers or The Hobbit). It will make a bajillion dollars and everyone will watch it.

But I'm not here to discuss Episode VII, or George Lucas. It's too early to care. I want to talk about Disney.

The Walt Disney Corporation is the world's largest media conglomerate, and it's about to ruin your fucking lives. You see, the United States has a set of what are called antitrust laws that are put in place to prohibit unfair business practices and to encourage competition in the market, which is the driving force behind our economy. When one entity has control over the products, competition decreases and the economy slows down. When this same practice is applied to the arts, the quality of art decreases while profit increases. Everyone suffers, no one wins.
Why do I mention this? Because now, Disney owns practically everything. You love Disney and you don't even know it. Disney decides what you're going to see and what you're going to like. Disney has become a monopoly. Oh sure, they're not doing anything wrong in the legal sense, but to the arts they are practically getting away with murder. This affects you.
Let's break it down real quick.

List of shit owned by Disney:
ABC 
ESPN (No, really)
Hollywood Records (A major label that owns acts ranging all the way from Demi Lovato to Breaking Benjamin)
Hulu
Several local television stations from coast to coast
Saban (The guys who brought you Power Rangers, among others, although they are currently fighting to get their intellectual property back)
Pixar Animation Studios
Marvel Entertainment (This means every single comic book character you love, and every medium they appear in)
Lucasfilm Limited
And every other thing with DISNEY slapped on it that you see in stores.

If, upon reading through such a list, you feel a slight pinch in your stomach, sweat break on your forehead, or your asshole clenching, don't worry: this means you are still human. Disney will not stop until they strangle everything you love in their clutches. And why? Why must one single entity have so much power? You need not look to Disney himself. Walt Disney was a spectacular man, a real American hero. He wanted to provide entertainment to children all over the world at prices every family could afford. But did you know that nearly every major Disney acquisition of the last decade has occurred without the Disney family's consent? In fact, no Disneys are even involved in the company. Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew, died over seven years ago. Since then, all major decisions have been handled by this man:

His name is Bob Iger, and he's the goddamn devil. He has even been quoted as saying that the Walt Disney Corporation seeks to "buy characters or businesses that are capable of creating great characters and great stories."  That article's tone now has an ominous foreshadowing quality to it, realizing that the "next big thing" was Lucasfilm Limited. Keep this in mind: Marvel Entertainment (Disney) produced one of the highest grossing films of all time this year (The Avengers). Lucasfilm Limited produces way more than just Star Wars material (but make no mistake, they produce a shitload of Star Wars material). They also own Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light and Magic, two major effects companies that produce visual effects and sound effects for all sorts of big studio films worldwide, and are considered to be some of the best in the business (I agree).
What this all has to do with, what I'm getting at here, is a new world order. You see, you don't realize it yet, but today is a major turning point in history. Today, with the acquisition of Lucasfilm Limited by the Walt Disney Corporation, marks the death of the new pioneers. In the post-Cold War era, America (arguably) would come to know two major entities that redefined visual entertainment forever: George Lucas and Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs, of course, was the founder of Apple and Pixar Animation Studios, and his legacy since his death has proven his influence on the popular culture. His name speaks for itself, I need not delve into his accomplishments or remind you of his renaissance-man stature. George Lucas was the hive-mind, singular creative consciousness behind Star Wars and every other major Lucasfilm property (including, to an extent, Indiana Jones). Now, say what you want about Lucas: say he ruined Star Wars with the prequels, say he raped Indiana Jones and shit on your childhood and say he can't write his way out of a paper bag. These things may be true. And you're free to believe them. But do not deny the impact he has left by creating those properties to begin with. The man is a goddamn genius. And now he's gone. With Disney gobbling up his brainchild, Lucas is no longer the man behind the scenes, pulling the strings. You're celebrating this now (want proof? Just look at all the fanboys on Facebook jizzing themselves in anticipation for a Lucas-free Episode VII), but you've simply traded in one devil for another. And this one has much larger, sharper teeth.
As for Steve Jobs? Oh right, he's not around anymore either. These men were true artists, people to be admired. They epitomized the American dream. And with them, that dream dies today.

Creativity : stifled
Competition : nullified

Welcome to the new dark ages.