Ran across this essay and though it worthy of sharing:

http://illusion0flife.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/defining-our-medium-a-k-a-what-the-hell-is-a-theme-park-anyway/

It explores questions such as are theme parks "art?" and what is a theme park? The writer settles upon a good working definition incorporating elements such as immersion, artificial environments, entertainment and education.

The writer compares and contrasts Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland as he constructs his essay. Interesting observations and analysis of Knott's to be sure.

Enjoy the read.

I did a restuarant in the theme park genre, or really, the "Amusement Park" genre. One of the tricks I used was painting a sign in one set of colors, then painting crackle over the top, then repainting the sign in another set of colors, to make it gaudier and older looking.

He wanted an "outdoor restaurant indoors" so that's what he got. We knew if we went too seriously, it would look corny, so they agreed to let us make it purposely corny. The customers loved it.

I love Amusement Park Art, I love doing it. I have hand painted signs in my house, some with the pointing fingers that have inside jokes as the words. When people cry about theming, I get a little pinked about it, because KI has a lot of theming, in my opinion. It's carnival theming with lights and color and motion.