We dig & dig & dig

and we know, deep down, that

we will not find the cure

down here.

 

But digging is the root of discovery and—

this time—

discovery is the root of profit.

You can help us profit too:

the raptors aren’t real but

we still charge as much.

 

And we will never pay for our hubris.

 

Forgetting Reality

 

Everyone has had that feeling. You know: that feeling of complete and utter fascination and enchantment by a movie, where you, as a viewer, truly forget about the daily woes of living a normal life and feel transported into the movie’s reality. Almost all children were at one time completely obsessed with the idea of huge, scaled, dragon-like animals after seeing Jurassic Park on the big screen. When people become so enamored with the thought of another so much more exciting world than ours, it makes them yearn to experience it to such an extent that for a while, they forget or just don’t care about their true reality. Jurassic Park achieves this by a combination of playing on viewers’ interests, providing a convincing mix of science and fantasy, and using impressive and advanced props and graphics. When the 3D reissue of the original Jurassic Park movie was released in 2013, Internet reviewer Ben Kendrick said, “[Director Steven] Spielberg will once again make audiences believe (if only for a second) that dinosaurs can still rule the Earth.” Any movie that truly creates this sense of disconnection with reality deserves the title of a worldwide phenomenon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Jurassic Park, the star of the movie was a twenty-foot tall, 18,000-pound animatronic T. Rex. Part of why the movie instills such a wonder in its viewers is because nearly all of the sets and dinosaurs were props. Real, handcrafted animatronic props. CGI was used in only five scenes in the movie as a supplement to the animatronics. As a result, on screen, they looked alive, as if the characters were actually touching them (because they were). In contrast, the latest release in the Jurassic franchise, Jurassic World, used nearly all motion-capture and computer generated imagery technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What animatronics they did use were visually enhanced by CGI. Now I’m not saying that the newer technology is worse, but there was certainly a different feeling associated with the original Jurassic Park’s special effects. One explanation is the two movies’ relative times in which they were released. Jurassic Park was released in 1993, and at the time, scenes from it were literally never thought possible before. The film was held on a pedestal at the time for its visual effects. Jurassic World was released this year, during a time where we are all very accustomed to amazing special effects in movies. As a result, viewers were already expecting the effects to look fantastic, and were without a doubt satisfied. Jurassic Park was therefore able to catch moviegoers off-guard with its scenes of massive dinosaurs, something people literally had never seen before. Upon seeing such impressive scenes, they were overcome with the realism and excitement and forgot their relatively dinosaur-free lives.

 

Another way that Jurassic Park mystifies its audiences is exactly how they depict the “dinosaurs” in the park. In the movie, the lead researcher Dr. Wu, openly states that the dinosaurs that they’ve brought back are imperfect representations of how dinosaurs actually looked like. There are multiple justifications for this in the movies, and they all stem into real-life justifications, as well. The first is that the researchers in the movie simply do not know exactly how dinosaurs looked; it’s as simple as that. They had an idea, but it was not complete. They described it as missing specific sections of the genetic code from the blood sample that they originally procured. As a result, they were forced to improvise and add other creatures’ DNA into the artificial dinosaurs of the island. The creatures started to look more like lizards or dragons instead of their actual avian historical appearances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So it turns out that the reptilian velociraptors that everyone knows and loves should actually look like a small, awkward bird. That is not nearly as intimidating and mystifying, though. Jurassic Park’s directors knew that, and ended up going with the reptilian path for the same reasons the movie’s park’s directors did: lack of historical knowledge and audiences’ entertainment. Just like Dr. Wu and his team, actual paleontologists at the time had a good sense of what dinosaurs should look like, but their view was still partially incomplete. Thus, there was some room for interpretation using Spielberg and crew’s imaginations. That leads into the second point of what exactly the public would consider “exciting” and “frightening”. This mindset wasn’t just used for the look of the dinosaurs; their sounds were completely fabricated, in fact. Scientists have no way of knowing what dinosaurs sounded like, if they even made sounds. However, everyone who has seen Jurassic Park is familiar with the iconic T-Rex roar. This is another example where the filmmakers improvised because of lack of knowledge; the sound of the T-Rex was actually a mix of many creatures, primarily a baby elephant and a Jack Russell terrier.

 

Because of all the liberties taken by the filmmakers, Jurassic Park became the phenomenal hit that everybody knows and loves. When people think of dinosaurs, it’s nearly certain that Jurassic Park comes to mind: the chilling roar of the Tyrannosaurus, the clever raptors, and the fantastically imaginative story. Because this is what everyone associates with dinosaurs, it shows how Jurassic Park really has captured the minds of its audience and has taken over what the general view of dinosaurs really is. Even though Jurassic Park does not necessarily show the most realistic depiction of dinosaurs, it’s clear that it provides one of the best science-fiction stories because of the perfect mix of creative improvisation and scientific accuracy. All of those things make viewers want to experience Jurassic Park first-hand, and Universal Studios allows them to do just that. 

 

We are Among Dinosaurs

 

In their time off from work, many people enjoy reading books or watching movies. Books and movies have the ability to transport our minds on a journey elsewhere – to a place that is beyond the present place and time. Depending on the genre, this other imaginative place could be in the past (i.e. historical fiction), present (i.e. realistic fiction), the future (i.e. science fiction), or an entirely different time space altogether (i.e. fantasy). Similarly, theme parks are able to take us somewhere other than the present. What distinguishes theme parks from books and movies is that they represent the materialized version of an alternate reality, as opposed to an imagined reality in our minds. Through rides, exhibits, attractions, dressed-up characters, etc., people can touch, see, experience – and essentially exist temporarily in this alternate reality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For fans of the Jurassic Park movies, the Jurassic Park Island of Adventure in Universal Studios Orlando provides just that: the materialized version of an alternate reality full of dinosaurs. Through this theme park, Universal Studios attempts to provide the tangible experience of living in a modern world filled with dinosaurs. In a sense, by visiting the theme park, it is as if you are visiting the park in the movie as if it were to open as planned!

 

Upon entering Jurassic Park, it feels as though you are entering a jungle. Large dinosaurs line the walkways that weave throughout the park. For that time being while you are in the park, you are among dinosaurs. A 9-foot tall velociraptor is one of the many dinosaurs you encounter in the park; though it is just a model, it exists alongside everyone, uncaged – just like the dinosaurs in the movie. Additionally, park employees often dress as though they are venturing into a jungle to make your interactions also convey the idea that you are alongside them. Jungle-like sound effects coming from speakers along the walkways and in the plants make the jungle environment more realistic. The park setting is crucial to the physical experience of transporting yourself to an alternate reality. It stimulates your mind to realize that you are walking around in this new setting that is just like that of the movie. By setting the scene, Universal Studios is able to help convince you that you are in the movie’s actual Jurassic Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The environment of the theme park (surroundings, pathways, plants, etc.) only sets the scene for this alternate reality. The full physical experience of visiting a theme park does not come until you get on a ride or visit an attraction. Video projections, special effects, and, most importantly, the mechanics of a ride all come into play to make you feel like you are truly separate from the real world and complete the physical experience that the theme park has to offer.

 

To truly immerse yourself in this dinosaur-filled alternate reality, you must take a river raft tour through the jungle on the Jurassic Park River Adventure Ride. The ride sets the scene by implementing the concept that you are entering the true Jurassic Park from the movie; it does this by taking your raft through the entry gates of the park.

 

Along this ride, you’ll visit several different exhibits/habitats and witness the dinosaurs carrying about their daily lives. The first you encounter is Ultrasaur Lagoon, where you’ll see an adult Ultrasaurus and two of its young. You’ll also see two Psittacosaurus in the lagoon. The raft then enters a cave, which takes you to Stegosaur Springs, a volcanic part of the park, where you will see a Stegosaur on either side of the raft near the riverbank. Up next, is Hadrosaur Cove. A Parasaurolophus bumps into the raft, pushing it off its course, causing you to drift towards the Raptor Containment Area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing to remember about the Raptor Containment Area from the movies is that it is a part of the park that has never had much success; there always seems to be trouble stirring here, so this part of the park is most definitely the one you want to avoid. If you had forgotten this fact from the movie, don’t worry, a voiceover in this part of the ride will remind you of the danger that lies ahead. As your raft drifts farther into the Raptor Containment Area, you encounter a security breach, followed by a woman over the intercom announcing, “Unauthorized Entry”. As you pass by a Raptor Pen, you can hear Velociraptors nearby and see branches move as the raptors are on the move. In the corner, you see a Dilophosaurus devouring what appears to be the remains of the passengers of a previous boat that ventured through the area. As you begin to fear that you’ll end up like the passengers of the previous unfortunate boat, a Jurassic Park jeep nearly falls on top of you from the side.

 

Just when you feel an overwhelming sense of relief that you made it out of the Raptor Containment Area alive, two Dilophosaurus jump onto the sides of your raft spitting venom (water) at you as the raft moves towards the Water Treatment Plant. Your raft enters the building, red lights flicker on the ceiling, and velociraptors stuck in piping attempt to jump at you. You witness another velociraptor tearing up a control panel. Just as your raft takes a 180-degree turn, a T-Rex begins to break through the roof. The intercom broadcasts an announcement: “Attention, this is an emergency. Toxic gases are present in this area. Life support is imminent. Life support systems will terminate in 15 seconds...10, 9, 8, 7, 6…”. In the midst of this life/death situation, the T-Rex breaks through the roof, angrily roaring at you and the other passengers. “…5, 4, 3, 2, 1” and you plunge down a 85-foot drop to safety, just in the knick of time before you and the other passengers became the T-Rex’s next meal.

 

After your plunge to safety, you come back to your senses and realize that you were only on a ride. (Some people may realize this much faster than others.) Despite this realization after-the-fact, for those 30 seconds that you were in the Water Treatment Facility, your surroundings seemed very, very real. For those 30 seconds, you felt fear run through your veins and you may have questioned whether you were actually going to make it out of the ride alive. For those 30 seconds, you questioned if the T-Rex was actually real and if Jurassic Park actually did succeed in their dinosaur project. For those 30 seconds, your mind and body were, indeed, transported to another reality, triggering your emotions to prove it.

 

Once you’ve questioned the reality of your surroundings in those 30 seconds, Universal Studios has successfully done its job; your physical experience in the alternate reality known as Jurassic Park is now complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reality Outside Jurassic Park

 

We can most likely all agree that impactful, well-known movies have the tendency to keep us thinking about the memorable events, scenes, and dialogues that are presented -- even after the movie itself is over. In order to become fully immersed throughout a movie, viewers let go of their own present reality and connect with the movie characters, live in the moment of the movie storyline, and engage with the movie details. Theme parks have a similar effect, situating us in a realm that is known as an alternate reality, allowing us to feel and live for a moment as though we have become transformed from our current lives to become a part of the movie. Some people fully give in to this alternate reality and immersion, taking in what they see and coming to believe the various exhibits, rides, dressed-up characters, and special effects that are shown. Others are stimulated by the scene, but maintain a separate, distinct thought that the whole experience is simply a short-lived theme park ride or a 2-hour long movie being watched at a theater. At the end of the day, only we, as the viewers and visitors, can decide what we want to make of the different realities presented to us and how we want to perceive our experiences.

 

Whether or not we choose to buy into an alternate reality and leave our present identity behind for a short period of time is up to our own choice. The notion of an alternate reality implies some sort of simulation in which people’s surroundings become a rendition of what is actually real in the world. Universal Studio’s Jurassic Park Island of Adventures provides a materialized version of the movie by placing visitors in an alternate reality filled with tangible dinosaurs and creatures of the prehistoric past. In addition to the tangible manifestations of the elements of the Jurassic Park movie, there are added details for realism such as striking visuals and captivating sound effects. However, is stepping into a world populated with dinosaurs -- made possible through visiting a theme park or watching a movie -- a real experience? Or is it simply just the product of an alternate reality wrestling with our own imaginations and expectations?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In reality, watching a movie in a theater and experiencing a theme park to its fullest doesn’t actually transport you to the real happenings of the film and the actual events that are depicted. In Jurassic Park, the scenes of Dr. Grant and Dr. Sattler seeing a Brachiosaurus for the the first time simply is not something that is happening in your real life outside of the movie itself and cannot be seen in the exact same way in the theme park. Flashing lights, sounds, and noises may add a sense of realism, but at the end of the day, we can reflect on the experience and remind ourselves that it was simply just a ride in a theme park specifically designed to reflect elements of Jurassic Park. Our minds can be effortless exposed and therefore transformed to other realities and our bodies are highly mobile, able to be moved around different environments. But we can never be physically at the same place and time with the timeline of events that take place in the Jurassic Park movie. The experience of being on a Jurassic Park ride, crashing through the river and having water splash around you is similar to what the characters dealt with in the movie because you are being moved around different places and bombarded with different scenes. However, your body will never physically be at the real world location and time period the movie is actually attempting to portray and resemble.

 

Nevertheless, taking a ride on a theme park attraction and internalizing a movie can make us feel certain emotions such as fear, shock, awe, and excitement. These are genuine and real motions that we elicit in response to sources and stimulations that themselves are not a part of our real, actual lives separate from the movie. Yet perhaps for a split moment, everything does seem to become real and we come to see what we are experiencing as a part of our actual, current state of existence. While watching movies, I personally like to ignore the evidence that I am simply sitting in a theater watching a projection on a screen. I would almost always unconsciously imagine as though it is a real story unfolding before me at the very moment. Movies and rides are often characterized as having volatile plots, changing courses without much warning, much like how real life events are often unpredictable. We can assume that through the movie itself and the thrill of the ride, we experience new realities for a fleeting moment of time, made possible through external stimuli.

 

The topic and concept of reality is one that is interesting to explore. Can it be that media such as books, movies, and performances reflect reality exactly the way it is, or do they distort it? As examples point out, media is responsible for a certain degree of distortion. If the world of dinosaurs that exists within Universal Studios takes us to a new, alternate reality and makes us forget for the time being about our actual reality, then is there a real reality at all? Perhaps the reality that we perceive to be true is simply one that is shaped by many different alternate, fictitious realities we have experienced, accumulated, and synthesized throughout the course our lives. Think about the amount of times people reference real life events to those that were shown in media and the striking resemblances that can be drawn between personal lives and themes elicited from movies. If this is the case, does media construct our impressions of reality? And is the world merely a projection of what is constructed by digital media?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If we choose to forget and let go of what is possibly our actual reality to live in the moment of Jurassic Park, is the actual reality still there even though we are not consciously and mentally engaged with it? Nowadays, we are instructed to turn off all cell phones when watching a movie, temporarily cutting of contact and the notifications that remind us of the world that exists outside of the film. We are in essence, engaging with a movie that was produced through real life shooting, acting, directing and editing to make us let go of our current state of reality.

 

As mentioned earlier, the Jurassic Park research team had an idea of how dinosaurs looked and how they sounded but not the complete picture. The dinosaurs shown in Jurassic Park were not entirely accurate representations of their real life counterparts, and the movie involved compromising true accuracy in order to captivate the attention of the audience. For instance, fabricated sounds were utilized in order to draw certain responses from the viewers, such as fright and excitement. This could potentially mislead us to think wrongly about the truth of history and how things were, but overall I think it still presents us with a greater sense of understanding about dinosaurs. At the same time, it could also be argued that how much of what scientists know and think they know is actually true. Improvisation, especially when used in design and visual performances can sometimes yield positive results in real life situations, given we accept the fact that it isn’t going to 100% reflect on truth.

 

After all, what would be left of the iconic Jurassic Park if we treat it so seriously to the point that we decide not to give it the attention it deserves because it is not historically and scientifically accurate. It is more enjoyable and thrilling when we come to watch movies and visit theme parks accepting that there is no true reality that exists, enjoying the moment and take in the materialized surroundings. Through being able to capture people’s minds, taking them away from the present situation and transforming their understandings, Jurassic Park ultimately shows that we have no legitimate reality. Instead of worrying over having to have a necessarily defined, tangible perception of reality set in stone, we can just sit back, appreciate, and fully engage with never-ending forms of alternate realities presented to us throughout our lives.

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Written by Sarah Hay, Kevin Hsu, and Brandon Huelga
Poem by Tyler Dougan