Amusement parks and theme parks are usually dismissed as frivolous or children’s entertainment and, unlike films or art, have received scant academic interest. They are a highly popular form of leisure but pose a challenge to scholars in how to analyse what is a multimedia experiential phenomenon.
This project , drawing from multiple disciplines, seeks to establish possible methodologies for analysing theme parks. Graduates and academics from the University of Oxford, Syracuse University, Lake Tahoe Community College and the University of Mainz have come together to bring our own varied experiences of themed spaces to try to understand how we can analyse theme parks and integrate them into popular culture studies.
We are very keen to hear from other people, whether academic, professional or enthusiasts, so please do get in contact so we can build a network.
Studying theme parks 