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Theatre and Performance Studies
Education; amusement parks; theme parks; virtual reality; new media; media history
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Full-Text Articles in Art and Design
Dark Rides And The Evolution Of Immersive Media, Joel Zika
Dark Rides And The Evolution Of Immersive Media, Joel Zika
Journal of Themed Experience and Attractions Studies
The dark ride is a format of immersive media that originated in the amusement parks of the USA in the early 20th century. Whilst their numbers have decreased, classic rides from the 1930s to the 70s, such as the Ghost Train and Haunted House experiences have been referenced is films, games and novels of the digital era. Although the format is well known, it is not well defined. There are no dedicated publications on the topic and its links to other media discourses are sparsely documented. Today, entertainment media is utilising technology extensively to create immersive experiences for audiences, transporting …