140394 VO+UE VM4 / VM6 - Staging the pre-modern other in post-colonial tourist space (2016S)
A critical exploration of ‘happy peasants’, ‘noble savages’ and imperial discourse in volunteering abroad
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Kol/Mob
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from We 17.02.2016 10:00 to We 24.02.2016 10:00
- Registration is open from Th 25.02.2016 10:00 to Tu 01.03.2016 10:00
- Deregistration possible until Th 31.03.2016 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Thursday 03.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 10.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 17.03. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 07.04. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 14.04. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 21.04. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 28.04. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 12.05. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 19.05. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 02.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 09.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 16.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 23.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
- Thursday 30.06. 09:00 - 11:00 Inst. f. Afrikawissenschaften, Seminarraum 3 UniCampus Hof 5 2M-O1-12
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
International tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and has gained recognition as a key driver for socio-economic development in countries of the Global South. However, the tourist industry does not necessarily create sustainable livelihoods and stable employment for local communities; its success rather depends on the ability to create profitable attractions that inspire people’s imagination. Such commodified fantasies of places and people are circulated in all forms of popular culture (e.g. travel logs, guide books, brochures, films, etc.) and may range from home-stays with 'noble savages' to all-inclusive volunteer holidays in 'least developed countries'. While it is fairly obvious that much adventure tourism of today resonates 19th century fantasies of imperial discovery, the volunteer sector - one of the corollaries of neoliberal global capitalism - places Western tourists amidst supposedly backward and helpless others, so that the affluent and mobile travelers can enjoy the feeling of 'making a difference' in the (neo-colonial?) tradition of bringing modernization to the remote corners of the earth. This course takes this as a starting point and investigates how images of otherness are negotiated in key tourist texts (guidebooks, brochures, websites, travel blogs, etc.) to explore how unequal power-relations between tourists and local communities are played out. There will be a focus on development oriented volunteer tourism.This course is aimed at MA students. It is designed to help participants develop both a theoretical understanding and practical skills to critically analyze media contents in terms of the intersection of discourse, power and identity with regard to tourism and development in the global south.
Assessment and permitted materials
Students will be familiarized with Cultural Studies concepts that help them deconstruct and denaturalize myths about the 'self' and the 'other' that are at play in tourism and some development discourse. Students will select viable examples for discussion (e.g. contents from guidebooks, brochures, websites, travel blogs, etc.) and investigate the socio-cultural implications of these examples with regard to hidden power relations and ideological tendencies that may reside in the texts and the tourist / development practices they relate to. Readings, group activities and presentations will be rounded off by discussions, peer-feedback sessions and written assignments.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Participation and a group presentation on an individual case study (counts 30% towards final grade), a group portfolio with a write-up about the same individual case study (counts 40 %), and a written midterm test (counts 30%).Requirements for a positive grade:
- regular attendance (miss max. two sessions)
- presentation, portfolio, test
- regular attendance (miss max. two sessions)
- presentation, portfolio, test
Examination topics
Reading list
Texts will be made available on moodle:Barthes, Roland. 'Mythologies A Summary by John Storey'. Storey, John. 2006. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Ed. John Storey. 4th Edition. London: Pearson Education.
Bhattacharyya, Deborah. 1997. 'Mediating India: An Analysis of a Guidebook'. Annals of Tourism Research 24(2), 371-389.
Fairclough, Norman. 2003. Analysing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research. London: Routledge. (read only chapter 3)
Hammett, Daniel; Jayawardane, Neelika. 2009. 'Performing the primitive in the postcolony: Nyoni’s Kraal in Cape Town'. Urban Forum 20, 215-233.
KhosraviNIK, Majid. 2010. 'Actor Description, Action Attributions, and Argumentation: Towards a Systematization of CDA Analytical Categories in the Representation of Social Groups'. Critical Discourse Studies 7(1), 55-72.
Lisle, Debbie. 2008. 'Humanitarian travels: Ethical communication in Lonely Planet guidebooks'. Review of International Studies 34, 155-172.
Urry, John; Larsen, Jonas. 2011. The Tourist Gaze 3.0. London: Sage. (read only chapter 1)
Watson, Marcus D. 2013. 'The Colonial Gesture of Development: The Interpersonal as a Promising Site for Rethinking Aid to Africa'. Africa Today (59)3, 3-28.
Bhattacharyya, Deborah. 1997. 'Mediating India: An Analysis of a Guidebook'. Annals of Tourism Research 24(2), 371-389.
Fairclough, Norman. 2003. Analysing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research. London: Routledge. (read only chapter 3)
Hammett, Daniel; Jayawardane, Neelika. 2009. 'Performing the primitive in the postcolony: Nyoni’s Kraal in Cape Town'. Urban Forum 20, 215-233.
KhosraviNIK, Majid. 2010. 'Actor Description, Action Attributions, and Argumentation: Towards a Systematization of CDA Analytical Categories in the Representation of Social Groups'. Critical Discourse Studies 7(1), 55-72.
Lisle, Debbie. 2008. 'Humanitarian travels: Ethical communication in Lonely Planet guidebooks'. Review of International Studies 34, 155-172.
Urry, John; Larsen, Jonas. 2011. The Tourist Gaze 3.0. London: Sage. (read only chapter 1)
Watson, Marcus D. 2013. 'The Colonial Gesture of Development: The Interpersonal as a Promising Site for Rethinking Aid to Africa'. Africa Today (59)3, 3-28.
Association in the course directory
VM4, VM6
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:35