Realism is a funny term with various
meanings. When realism is discussed in artistic theory, it’s not usually
looking at the accuracy with which something was visually drawn or painted.
It’s not interested in the accuracy of portrayal of perspective, for example. Realism
is concerned with objective reality – in portraying the mundane truth, not
romanticized ideas. This is usually achieved by exaggerating negative aspects
such as ugliness or dirtiness.
With regard to theme parks, there are so
many things to consider when exploring “realism”. Typical theme parks are fake
by their very nature, removed from site history. They are purpose-built
environments, usually trying to emulate some real place elsewhere; think of
somewhere like Walt Disney World, built on otherwise useless swampland. There
are exceptions, such as theme parks that have long been leisure venues of some
kind like Alton Towers, which was once a pleasure garden and holiday home. The
oldest amusement park in the world, Bakken in Denmark, started its life as a
pleasure site when a natural spring was discovered in 1583. Along the way, it’s
evolved into the amusement park of today, acquiring various entertainment venue
qualities along the way. These
spaces can feel more genuine because their history is accumulative and feels
less purpose-made. But the art of hiding that, and making you feel like the
environment has been that way forever with the use of scenery, is another kind of realism altogether - realism in the skill of fakery.
How much like a rock does this pretend rock look? It’s very difficult to make
an imaginary place seem real, and in complete juxtaposition of the realism which
seeks to portray objective reality, making the imaginary look real involves
using a lot of romanticized clichés. In trying to communicate to someone what
something looks like, it’s easier to conform to stereotypes, which may be less
accurate, and so less real. It’s funny how being more realistic in some ways
makes something less realistic in others.
