‘Theme Park America’: American Culture Program to examine the power, politics of amusement

Randolph College’s Spring 2026 American Culture Program will explore the political economy of theme parks. 

“Theme Park America,” which will be held during Session 4, is open to full-time sophomore, junior, and senior Randolph students. The deadline to apply is Nov. 4. 

“Students will be putting their hearts, minds, and bodies into not just understanding what makes an American theme park work, but also examining the effects the amusement industry has had on U.S. history,” said M Stang, Randolph’s Ainsworth Visiting Professor of American Culture.

“We will have in-person, on-site experiences so that students can not just learn about public amusement but also experience it.” 

Students accepted into the American Culture program are enrolled in two courses, the American Culture Seminar and American Images, an interdisciplinary exploration of the ways Americans represent themselves in intellectual and popular culture. 

For more information, visit https://www.randolphcollege.edu/americanculture/apply.