Drawing on cultural associations with bodies of water, the spectacle of pretty women, and the appeal of the concept of "family-friendly" productions, performative aquatic spectacles portray water as an exotic fantasy environment exploitable for the purpose of entertainment. In Swim Pretty, Jennifer A. Kokai reveals the influential role of aquatic spectacles in shaping cultural perceptions of aquatic ecosystems in the United States over the past century.

Examining dramatic works in water and performances at four water parks, Kokai shows that the evolution of these works and...