Susan G. Davis

This is the story of Sea World, a theme park where the wonders of nature are performed, marketed, and sold. With its trademark star, Shamu the killer whale—as well as performing dolphins, pettable sting rays, and reproductions of pristine natural worlds—the park represents a careful coordination of shows, dioramas, rides, and concessions built around the theme of ocean life. Susan Davis analyzes the Sea World experience and the forces that produce it: the theme park industry; Southern California tourism; the privatization of urban space; and the increasing integration of advertising, entertainment, and education. The result is an engaging exploration of the role played by images of nature and animals in contemporary commercial culture, and a precise account of how Sea World and its parent corporation, Anheuser-Busch, succeed. Davis argues that Sea World builds its vision of nature around customers' worries and concerns about the environment, family relations, and education. While Davis shows the many ways that Sea World monitors its audience and manipulates animals and landscapes to manufacture pleasure, she also explains the contradictions facing the enterprise in its campaign for a positive public identity. Shifting popular attitudes, animal rights activists, and environmental laws all pose practical and public relations challenges to the theme park. Davis confronts the park's vast operations with impressive insight and originality, revealing Sea World as both an industrial product and a phenomenon typical of contemporary American culture. Spectacular Nature opens an intriguing field of inquiry: the role of commercial entertainment in shaping public understandings of the environment and environmental problems.

Corporate Culture and the Sea World Experience

Spectacular Nature

Akiko Busch

Philippe Vergne

Joshua Gamson

Walker Art Center

Dike Blair

Emma Duncan

Contributors include Philippe Vergne, Dike Blair, Akiko Busch, Susan Davis, Emma Duncan, Joshua Gamson.

Life's Guilty Pleasures

Let's Entertain

East Texas Nan’s Favorite 1,000 Quotes on Inspiration, Wisdom, Humor, Texas & More By: Susan G. Davis In 1995 Susan G. Davis (Nan is what Susan’s 5 year old grandson called her) 5 year old grandson Clint gave her a journal for Christmas. He suggested “why don’t you put all of those quotes you’re collecting in that old notebook in this journal” So for 20 years Davis filled her journal. When Clint came home on leave from the Air Force and asked her about the journal, he was surprised that she had accumulated enough information to fill the entire journal! It was he who suggested she put together her collection and create this book for everyone to enjoy. Within the pages of East Texas Nan’s Favorite 1,000 Quotes on Inspiration, Wisdom, Humor, Texas & More, Davis hopes that anyone can walk away with something that will enrich their daily lives. Whether it be a ray of optimism, an answered question, inspiration when they need to be uplifted or when they need their funny bone tickled or and animal anecdote to tug at their heart strings or some Texas tidbit. This little book has something for everyone and can be read over and over.

East Texas Nan’s Favorite 1,000 Quotes on Inspiration, Wisdom, Humor, Texas & More

Lance E. Davis

Lance Edwin Davis

Robert A. Huttenback

This book presents answers to some of the key questions about the economics of imperialism.

The Political Economy of British Imperialism, 1860-1912

Mammon and the Pursuit of Empire

Susan G. Davis

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