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| Unit name |
Tourist Culture |
| Unit code |
SOCI25004 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Brad West |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department |
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit examines contemporary tourism and the tourist cultures which constitute it. Where tourism was once not considered an appropriate subject matter for serious sociological scholarship, today various prominent sociological theorists see tourism, travel and mobility as metaphors of the present age and a basis for rethinking the academic discipline. Despite such literatures and an appreciation of the economic value of tourism as the world's largest industry, the sociology of tourism remains underdeveloped. Throughout this unit we consider the cultural and political significance of tourism in reference to debates about the nature of social life. The unit pays particular attention to the diversity of tourist forms, including those that challenge traditional ideas of tourism as only being a simplistic search for escape and pleasure. This includes case studies of backpacker, battlefield, environmental, educational and volunteer tourism.
The unit aims to:
- Investigate the cultural meaning of contemporary tourism and its diversity of forms
- Identify the role of tourism in bringing about cultural transformations and social change
- Critically investigate the role of tourism in contemporary social theories regarding globalisation.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- Awareness of the dynamics underpinning the post-industrial economy
- Capability to identify assumptions in postmodern theories of travel and tourism;
- Knowledge of the cultural and economic influence of tourism and leisure in shaping collective identities;
- Ability to distinguish cultural from economic and material social forces.
Teaching Information
2 hours of lectures and 1 hour seminar
Assessment Information
- 3000 word essay (worth 60% of total grade) It will assess the achievement of learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- Two hour unseen exam (worth 40% of total grade) in which student need to answer five short answer questions and one long answer question. It will assess the achievement of learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Reading and References
- Cohen, E. Backpacking: Diversity and Change . In: G. Richards and J. Wilson (Eds.) The Global Nomad. Backpacker Travel in Theory and Practice. Channel View, Clevedon. 2004, p.389-407.
- Craik, Jennifer. The Culture of Tourism . In: Rojek, Chris and John Urry (org.). Touring Cultures: Transformations of Travel and Theory. New York: Routledge, 1997, p.129-133.
- Franklin, A. (2003) Tourism London: Sage.
- Smith, V.L. and Brent, M. (eds) (2001) Hosts and Guests Revisited : Tourism Issues of the 21st century. New York: Springer.
- Urry, John (1990) The Tourist Gaze: Leisure and Travel in Contemporary Societies. London Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
