“Between Fantasy and Reality:” Star Wars and the Adaptation of Cinema into Themed Attractions

Keywords: Cinema, Movies, Theme Parks, Disney, Disneyland, Star Wars, Film Geography, Media, Tourism, Galaxy's Edge, Attractions, Nostalgia
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 75

Abstract

In 2019, Disney opened two 19-acre themed environments modeled after the “Star Wars” franchise. “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” opened in both California and Florida and are intended to be the most immersive and meticulously curated experiences that Disney has built in their parks yet. While this scale of corporate blending of intellectual and physical property may be the grandest, it is certainly not the first. In this presentation, I will examine the historic relationship between cinema and themed entertainment from a geographic perspective. From the earliest days of the “cinema of attractions” as described by Gunning, we see environments transformed into immersive experiences utilizing the mix of cinema and space. When Disneyland was developed, the hyperreal nature of the experience discussed by Baudrillard was achieved by Disney engineers modeling architecture after cinema. Since the 1980s, Disneyland has been trying to harness the massive success of the Star Wars franchise and implement the brand into their theme parks. In order to understand why Disney has spent billions of dollars creating this Star Wars-themed environment, I will also discuss the history of the series of films created by George Lucas and how they utilize the same cinematic manipulation of nostalgia that Disney and their parks also employ. Through discussions of emotional, nostalgic, and media geographies, this presentation will illustrate the development and implementation of cinema as a crucial feature in themed entertainment.