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In Fantasy City John Hannigan examines the history, and sociology of the rapidly developing complex of theatres, theme rides, interactive museums, convention centres and casinos which have begun to dominate the economy and ecology of North American central cities. In so doing, he addresses a number of important questions about the role which such "Urban Entertainment Districts" (UED) are likely to play in the future of these cities.
As distinct urban forms, Hannigan agues, the UED has several defining characteristics. First, they are "theme-o-centric" in that they are organized around scripted themes borrowed from sports, history or popular entertainment. Second, they are aggressively branded so as to sell to consumers a range of licensed merchandise. Third, UED's ignore conventional temporal structures and promote nighttime -- or even around-the-clock -- activities. Fourth, they are modular in that they mix and match cultural and leisure components. Fifth, they are solipsistic in that they often ignore the character of the wider urban environments in which they are located. Finally, UED's are postmodern in that they are organized in terms of the technologies of simulation and virtual reality.
By way of providing a larger context, Hannigan traces the rise, fall and re-emergence of urban public amusements, detailing the historical continuities and discontinuities. For Hannigan, the UED finds its origins at the end of the 19th...