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SPEAKER NOTES

What is it about conditions of living in the comfortable, affluent, largely risk-free modern world that make such rides so

attractive? How can we make sense of the desire to place our lives in a simulation of danger, when most of humanity’s

desire has been to move to a place of safety? How do consumers understand their own roles in these rides? Do restraints

make us feel safer, or trapped, and why have the trains and restraints changed so much over the years to make us feel more

exposed? Why are sudden launches frightening? Why do we scream when flipped upside down?

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SPEAKER NOTES

We reference US culture here but it goes beyond into world culture – this is an important field of study – not only are theme

parks huge business and need to be better understood, there’s the emotional culture references – rollercoasters are icons.

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SPEAKER NOTES

The terminology of the rollercoaster has been embedded into the vernacular –”rollercoaster share market”, “my

rollercoaster cancer journey” – it’s part of our language.

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SPEAKER NOTES

1 - These quotes are a comment on the weirdness of the whole experience and the bigger psych and societal questions –

what exactly are we doing going on these rides?

2 – We are always thinking of what is next – we don’t think about the washing up – but the assignment or the chores – the

big thrill or scare stops you thinking of other things -- It’s a release to feel alive again and to be back in the moment – it’s

quite pure in that way. Are we trying to feel alive again?

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SPEAKER NOTES

1 - The substitution is the coaster. The referent is our fear of heights and falling, dropping as a baby, vertigo – coasters taps

into the deep instinctual fears

2 - Surpassing the real – the experience has been so expertly commodifed that you can sample these frightening, life-

threatening emotions – your body can have a real taste of it - and you can still have a spot of lunch afterwards.

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