In 1869, John Wesley Hyatt introduced the first synthetic plastic through the formulation of celluloid, initially created as a cheaper alternative to ivory for billiard balls. This innovation marked the beginning of the modern plastic industry, paving the way for a wide range of consumer products. The introduction of celluloid not only transformed manufacturing processes but also had significant cultural implications, as plastic became a ubiquitous material in everyday life.

The introduction of celluloid plastic production marked a cultural transition from organic materials to imitation goods. This shift provided 20th-century poets like Wallace Stevens and Elizabeth Bishop with a material vocabulary to critique synthetic artifice and explore themes of authenticity and illusion.