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The notion of representation

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At the Rhode Island Flower Show

At the Rhode Island Flower Show

In my description of themes and themed places, the notion of representation is spoken of as unproblematic. Of course this is not true; the notion is deeply contested and dangerous to rely on. However, it is themed places that present themselves as if the act of representing "Irishness" or "Star Wars" were a straightforward relation. A theme exists by opening a gap between itself as a themed place and its theme as a unifying prior meaning, even if in some cases the theme does not predate it, and was established with the themed place. A themed place works with the appearance of unproblematic representation .