The Ecology of Coney Island
Coney Island is derived from two different attractions: 1. Natural Recreation 2. Artificial amusement.
Ch.1: The beach is modified for pedestrians. The beach is not organic but the recreational areas were strategically designed to create this specific landscape. This can be called “traditional nature” as this is what the beach were known as pre-industrial era. There is a boardwalk, ramps, stairs, and paths for pedestrians to enjoy what nature can offer. All of the design that went to the Coney Island beach was for leisure and to be commercial-free.
Ch.2: However, the shift of material (walking from sand to wood) shows the relationship between the increasing population and American landscape. Going from 19th century to more urban and industrial. The boardwalk incorporates “traditional nature” by creating retaining walls with fish decorations and adding an aquarium, but this is using nature for economic purposes. The natural state is quickly overshadowed as entertainment becomes more advanced, urban, and industrial. There are still instances where sand is blown on the boardwalk and grass growing between the wood demonstrating nature trying to claim back the land. However, this landscape is dominated by humans.
Ch.3 The landscape by the machinery can be called “external nature” “The precision and predictability of gears, wheels, and electricity created a fantasy land of disorder, the unexpected, emotional excess, and sensory overload. Coney Island allowed members of the growing urban working class to assimilate and participate in a culture ever more dominated by the machine.” (Adams) People not only work in a factory, but now play in a factory which is only capitalizing industrialization. “People came to the finest beaches and never thought of going swimming; they might catch only a quick blue flash of the ocean over the park wall before the roller coaster plunged” The people and landscape are dominated by machines.
What unites “traditional nature” and “ external nature” in Coney Island is both play with the idea of wonder, risk, fear, and potential danger of the unknown. Going on the roller coaster is equally risky and thrilling as swimming in the ocean. Although they are two different environments they have created a balance between the two different types of nature resulting in Coney Island being one of the most successful amusement park/beach economically and culturally.
The title came from an exhibition in the Whitney Museum that showed the contrast off these two different entertainment spaces and how they relate due to their proximity with one another.
