Subject: Anthropology of Tourism (ACR)

Lecturer: Dr. Hana Novotná, Ph.D.

Annotation:

The course will examine the impact of tourism on changing social realities. Anthropological theories will provide a unique framework because of its holistic approach. Lectures will include the following subjects:

• the quest for authenticity, „ the Exotic Other“, escapism
• visual anthropology and tourism, anthropology and entertainment, commoditisation of culture, tourists´ crafts and indigenous material culture
• post-Fordist consumption, social and political mobility, technological expectations among tourists, anticipation of tourism
• international tourism and the Third world
• imperial nostalgia

Subject matter

Week 1: Introduction to the course. Tourism in social sciences. Interdisciplinarity of tourism. Relations between tourism and anthropology.

Week 2: Terminology, typology. Theoretical framework of tourism. Methodology. Major topics in anthropology of tourism. Major authors.

Week 3: Historical development of tourism in Europe and Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic.

Week 4: Tourism as ritual and form of religion: sacred character of tourism; tourism as pilgrimage. Authenticity, heritage, escapism, ´exotic other´.

Week 5: From nature to culture. Tourism as cultural commoditisation. Ethnic villages, folklore, tradition.

Week 6: Latest trends in tourism.

Week 7: Relationship between hosts and guests. Psycho-social motivations.

Week 8: Tourism and space. New forms of urban and rural tourism. Tourist gaze.

Week 9: Representations of international tourism.

Week 10: Case studies – third world tourism.

Week 11: Tourism and ekology. Eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, safe tourism.

Week 12: Tourism and sociocultural change. Globalisation, tourism and terrorism.

Week 13: Final consolidation

Assessment strategy and method: exam

1) Students will undertake micro-fieldwork focusing on the enlargement of the EU and its affects on tourism. The outcome will be a written report.

2) Oral presentation of a case study in tourism.

Compulsory reading:

Crick, Malcolm (1989) Representations of international tourism in the social sciences: Sun, Sex, Sights, Savings, and Servility. Annual Rev. Anthropol., 18: 307 – 344.

Harrison, David (ed) (2001) Tourism and the less developed world : issues and case studies. London : CABI publishing.

Jafari, Jafar (2001) Encyclopedia of tourism. London : Routledge.

Lew, Alan A., Hall, C. Michael a Allan M. Williams (2004) A Companion to Tourism. Blackwell.

Meethan, Kevin (2001) Tourism in Global Society: place, culture, consumption. New York: Palgrave.

Recommended literature:

Rojek, Chris a John Urry (eds.) (1997) Touring Cultures. Transformation of travel and theory. London: Routledge.

Smith, Valene L. (ed.) (1989). The Anthropology of Tourism. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Urry, John (1990) The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and travel in contemporary societies. London: Sage.