Summary Of Amusing The Million By John F. Kasson

John F. Kasson: Amusing The Million

In our modern society of America’s industrialization and exhibit freedom’s in civilization, came a point in time where America’s culture was broad and blatant. The themes, amusements, technology, art, and culture, we have today was from a spark that created a bond of fire for american society. The spark that revolutionized the generations of people and cultural expectations was no other than, Coney Island. In John F. Kasson: Amusing the Million, the author displays the era that created a diversion of new culture and the beginning of a “new urban industrial society.”(Kasson, 72). Kasson states, “Coney Island... represented a cultural accommodation to the developing urban industrial society in a tighter integration of work and leisure

In the beginning of Coney Island, 1895, genteel culture was the formal culture that many people followed back in the time. Many genteel reformers created the museums, art, galleries, libraries, symphonies, and many other institutions. Genteels believed all activities both in work and leisure should be constructive. The reason genteels were so successful was because of their ability use “influential shapers” to echo their message to a mass audience. “This alliance between “high” and “middle” culture, between members of the cultural elite and commercial tastemakers, made the hegemony of the genteel culture possible.”(Kasson, 3). Although, by the twentieth century middle class genteel began to fall apart. Businesses for mass culture began to see new market opportunities for middle class and lower class in amusement but in a less cultural way. “Afro-American music and dance, violent sports, competitive athletics...began to increase popular acceptance.”(Kasson, 2). The most striking attraction of the new change in american culture was amusement parks. “Their special distinction lay