Placing theme parks from the United States, Europe and Asia in a comparative, multidisciplinary framework, this fascinating book argues that these fantasy environments are an extreme example of the totalization of public space. By illuminating the relationship between theme parks and public space, this book offers critical insights into the ethos of total landscape. Illuminating the relationship between theme parks and public space, the book offers an insight into the ethos, design and expectations of public space in the twenty-first century.
Biography
Miodrag Mitrasinovic, PhD, is an architect, author and educator. He teaches at the University of Texas at Austin and at Parsons School of Design in New York City. He is also the co-editor of Travel, Space, Architecture (with J. Traganou and S. Akkach) forthcoming from Ashgate in 2007.
’...an in-depth summary into the historical context and current issues surrounding PROPASt - privately-owned publicly accessible space...the in-depth exploration of themeing is especially fascinating...’ Geography 'The book takes the reader on a fascinating journey...a book that provides meticulous empirical information while challenging readers to think critically about the social and spatial dimensions of global change is worth leaving on one's coffee table, or one's desk - it is a book I will pick up again!' New Zealand Geographer 'Total landscape, theme parks, public space presents a highly original and refreshingly provocative take on the rise of landscapes of leisure in particular, and the fate of public space in general. The author, Miodrag Mitrasinovic, comes at his subject as a trained architect, a skilled navigator of postmodern critique, a writer with a strongly poetic vision of landscape, but also a father of a young child fascinated by all things Disney. This latter predicament infuses his work with a spirit of adventure, and a willingness to engage ideas that in some postmodern circles might be considered virtually heretical.' Cultural Geographies,
