Scott A Lukas, a cultural anthropologist and attractions expert, has released a new book that shines the spotlight on the creative side of the themed entertainment industry.

A Reader in Themed and Immersive Spaces, which is available in print, as an e-book and as a free download, gives in-depth analysis and original insights of a diverse range of themed environments. As well as Lukas, a number of academics, researchers, critics and design professionals have written for the anthology, including Forrec creative Gordon Grice, Dutch architect Stefan Al, author and theme park expert Florian Freitag and game designer and curator Celia Pearce.

From Parc Astérix to Luna Park, Mini Israel to the Las Vegas Strip, Dismaland to Dreamland and SeaWorld to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company – Lukas and his fellow contributors use their years of attractions industry experience and unique interpretations to tackle a variety of topics. The book is divided into sections that include the Past, History and Nostalgia; Constructs of Culture and Nature; Aspects of Immersion, Experience and Phenomena; Notions of Identity, Self and Ideology and the Politics of the Space.

“Theming, in some very unique ways, has expanded beyond previous stereotypes and oversimplifications of culture and place to now consider new and often controversial topics, themes and storylines,” writes Lukas. “At the same time, immersion … has expanded to become an overarching concern of many consumer spaces around the world. This collection in themed and immersive spaces … considers the many cultural, political, historical, aesthetic, existential and design contexts of themed and immersive spaces.”

Essays include “Flawed Theming: Center Parcs as a Commodified, Middle-Class Utopia”; “Disney’s Immersive Futurism”; “Believe It and Not: The Playful Pull of Popular Culture-Themed Tourism Attractions” and “The Effects of a Million Volt Light and Sound Culture”.

A Reader in Themed and Immersive Spaces is available to download here. To order a print copy or e-book visit www.lulu.com.