This essay analyses Thomas Pynchon’s novel The Crying of Lot 49 (1966) in relation to postmodern literary theory, specifically the concepts of hyperreality and imaginary stations. In Simulacra and Simulation (1981), Jean Baudrillard proposes that the Disneyland theme park in California is an imaginary station that conceals the fact that it is the world outside of Disneyland that is hyperreal. These ideas were developed further in relation to California by Umberto Eco in Travels from Hyperreality (1986). Baudrillard’s model is applied in this essay to the housing development of Fangoso Lagoons in The Crying of Lot 49. By analysing the mediums through which it is portrayed, how it is described and the events that occur there, Fangoso Lagoons is found to be similar to Baudrillard’s example of Disneyland because it is presented as an amazing, fantastic and bizarre spectacle. However, the true hyperreality lies outside of the development, in the novel’s semi-fictional California. This essay argues that Fangoso Lagoons is presented as hyperreal, similar to Baudrillard’s example of Disneyland or Umberto Eco’s example of Hearst Castle, but that it is in fact an imaginary station. As Baudrillard and Eco propose, the purpose of the imaginary station is to make the world outside appear as real through contrast. The imaginary station achieves this by feeding reality energy to its hyperreal surroundings.

Le tourisme s’entend désormais comme un des facteurs de compréhension et de production du processus de métropolisation. Entrainant une dynamique de reconfiguration des territoires, ce dernier invite la recherche scientifique à revisiter les problématiques urbaines à l’aune de nouvelles échelles. Sur ce plan, la méga-région constitue un système urbain émergent et un champ de recherche qui demande à être investigué. Or, si les travaux scientifiques portant sur le tourisme dans les grandes métropoles tendent à se développer, très peu questionnent l’échelle méga-régionale, bien que le tourisme soit mentionné comme enjeu de développement au sein de cet espace. L’objectif de cette recherche est de questionner les liens entre tourisme et métropolisation en appréhendant le tourisme comme un élément structurant des ensembles métropolitains d’échelle méga-régionale. Notre stratégie de recherche se base sur l’étude de cas de ce que nous avons nommé la « mégarégion touristique Paris-Reims », caractérisée par la présence du pôle touristique du Val d’Europe. Nous procédons à l’analyse des dynamiques d’intégration touristique au sein de cet espace en privilégiant une approche par le jeu des acteurs locaux du tourisme. Nous focalisons notre analyse dans un premier temps sur les pratiques et les représentations intégratrices des collectivités locales et de leurs organismes locaux de tourisme. Puis nous nous attachons à décrypter les stratégies d’internationalisation des acteurs de la région périmétropolitaine de Reims sur le plan touristique, en nous intéressant aux grandes maisons de Champagne et à la candidature de cette région viticole au Patrimoine mondial de l’humanité. / Tourism is now accepted as one of the factors that produce and help us to understand the process of metropolization. Metropolization is initiating profound changes in territories, and scientific research needs to take a fresh look at the problems of urbanisation on this much larger scale. In this context, the mega-region is an emerging urban system and an area of research that requires examination. However, whilst research into large metropolitan areas is on the rise, very little of this work looks at the mega-regional dimension, even though tourism is mentioned as a factor for development at this level. The aim of this research is to study the links between tourism and metropolization by considering tourism as a component that gives structure to mega-regional size metropolitan areas. Our research design is based on a study of the case that we call the “Paris-Reims mega-tourist region”, which includes the Disneyland Paris tourist area. We analyse the dynamics of tourism development within this area, and in particular study the interactions between the local tourist industry players. We concentrate first on the spatial practices and representations of the local authorities and tourist organisations. Then we analyse the international tourism strategies of player in the greater Reims area, and in particular the great Champagne houses, and at the Champagne wine region’s application to become a World Heritage Site.

Post World War II victory culture and its fallout-the consensus ideology-led to the creation of a middle class willing to conform to a prescribed set of ideals, safely removed from all danger, and enjoying the material benefits of a growing middle-class income bracket. Walt Disney and Hugh Hefner, two seemingly ideologically opposed businessmen, recognized this economic, political, and cultural shift and sought to capitalize on it financially. A cultural-history study of both companies revels many similarities in each company's design, development, and impact on American culture. To begin with, Disneyland and Playboy appeared in the mid-1950s as Americans were settling into postwar affluence and consumerism. Disney and Hefner each recognized the changes occurring within society and intended to design areas of reprieve. As such, Disneyland and Playboy were designed as areas of refuge where one could escape the stifling conformity of middle-class America and simultaneously forget Cold War fears. Instead, Disneyland and Playboy embraced the consensus and became reflections of society and culture rather than operatives of counter-culture. To understand how each company could fail in its original intent but remain as an emblem of American culture, it is necessary to understand the era, the men behind the visions, and how each company absorbed and reacted to cultural attitudes and strains. Disney and Hefner manipulated their way into the American cultural consciousness through a series of ironies and inconsistencies. Each sought to provide a haven of diversity as an alternative to the consensus conformity rampant within 1950s society. Ultimately, Disneyland and Playboy came to represent the homogeneity Disney and Hefner sought to escape. / Graduation date: 2002

by Ng Wing-Sze Cecilia. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-93). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.iii / CHAPTER / Chapter 1. --- COMPANY PROFILE --- p.1 / The Walt Disney Parks --- p.1 / Hong Kong Disneyland --- p.1 / Location --- p.1 / Park Developer & Operator --- p.2 / Financing --- p.2 / Infrastructure --- p.3 / Schedule of Operation --- p.4 / Chapter 2. --- HONG KONG DISNEYLAND BUSINESS MODEL --- p.6 / Revenue Model --- p.7 / Customer Base --- p.7 / Pricing Strategy --- p.8 / Financial Performance Variable --- p.9 / Risk Management Program --- p.10 / The Walt Disney Company Risk Management --- p.10 / HKDL Risk Management --- p.13 / Risk Management on Book Record --- p.13 / Chapter 3. --- PRECIPITATION RISK EXPOSURE --- p.15 / Introduction to Precipitation --- p.15 / Distinguish between Weather and Climate --- p.16 / Rainfall Risk Exposure --- p.16 / Precipitation in Hong Kong --- p.17 / Overview --- p.17 / Rainstorm Warning System --- p.18 / Practices on Rainy Days --- p.20 / Theme Park Industry --- p.20 / The Ocean Park --- p.21 / Rainfall Risk Mitigation --- p.21 / Chapter 4. --- WEATHER DERIVATIVES --- p.24 / Evolution --- p.24 / The Birth of Weather Derivatives --- p.24 / Weather Risk Management Association --- p.24 / Year 1999 --- p.25 / Year 2000 --- p.25 / Year 2001 --- p.26 / Year 2002 --- p.26 / Precipitation Derivatives --- p.27 / Market & Market Players --- p.28 / Types of Product --- p.30 / Index Derivatives --- p.30 / Event-Basis Derivatives --- p.32 / Chapter 5. --- Hedging Against Rainfall Risk with Weather Derivatives --- p.33 / Formation of Hedging Strategy --- p.34 / Hedging Objectives --- p.34 / Hedging Target --- p.35 / Dimension of Precipitation Impacts --- p.35 / Normal Revenue without Rainfall Risk --- p.40 / Revenue Forecasting for Year 1 --- p.41 / Specifications on the Contracts --- p.46 / Chapter 6. --- General Recommendations to HKDL for hedging with all kinds of Rainfall Derivatives --- p.49 / Choice of Market and Counter Parties --- p.49 / Index Model Design --- p.50 / Dimensions of Variables & Time Scale --- p.50 / Accumulated Rainfall Index --- p.51 / Methodologies of Rainfall Measurements --- p.54 / Location of Rainfall Measuring Stations --- p.54 / Measuring Instrument --- p.56 / Historical Data Consistency --- p.58 / Data Availability and Reliability --- p.59 / Choice of Strike Level --- p.59 / Tick Size and Maximum Payments --- p.62 / Pricing Approach --- p.63 / Chapter 7. --- Example of Rainfall Derivatives --- p.66 / Black/Red Rainstorm Signal Call --- p.66 / Specifications --- p.66 / Revenue model under Different Scenario --- p.68 / Chapter 8. --- Portfolio Management --- p.70 / Risk Management Information System --- p.70 / Issues on Book Keeping --- p.71 / Chapter 9. --- CONCULSION --- p.72