What is it about?
This paper sets out a history of American, railroad-style diners, their development and place in US culture.
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Why is it important?
With the rise and rise of fast food franchises, traditional diners are far less prominent and represent a style of commerce that is fast fading. It is also interesting that their design is a form of false nostalgia, as they are superficially modeled on converted railroad cars.
Perspectives
This paper was inspired by a chance visit to Mickey’s Diner in St Paul, Minnesota, and iconic venue that has featured in several movies and is on the Historic Buildings Register. Mickey’s menu reflects traditional Minnesota values, other diners take on the ethnic cuisine of their area or the operator’s background.
Mike Scully
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Nostalgia is not what it used to be: Rural idylls and the American diner, Australasian Journal of Popular Culture, March 2017, Intellect,
DOI: 10.1386/ajpc.6.1.17_1.
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