The Tourist Gaze
Summary
Tourism is a key aspect of modern life and a substantial industry. In this book, the author sets out to construct a distinctive sociology of tourism. He demonstrates that tourism deserves attention as a central element of broad cultural changes in contemporary society.
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The Tourist Gaze by John Urry
Drawing an analogy with Foucault′s concept of the gaze, this book focuses on the `tourist gaze′: that there are systematic ways of `seeing′ what we as tourists look at, and that these ways of seeing can be described and explained. Urry develops this analysis through various levels - historical, economic, social, cultural and visual. Mass tourism is charted from its origins in the English seaside resorts to its development as a global industry. The economic impact and complex social relations involved in international tourism are explored. Changing patterns of tourism are shown to be connected to the broader cultural changes of postmodernism and related to the role of the service and middle classes. The author argues that we are seeing a universalization of the tourist gaze and increasing confusion between `tourism′ as it is conventionally understood and a host of other social practices - shopping, sport, culture, hobbies, leisure and education.
`For tourism researchers and professionals alike this book is a fascinating read - one that should not be missed if tourism′s future marketing message is to be effectively formulated and targeted′ - Regional Studies
`The book is written in a very accessible style that would serve as a good point of entry for anyone interested in leisure, tourism, and cultural change in contemporary societies. The scope of Urry′s book is breathtaking, one is left with a feeling of coming to terms with the complex set of social relations that are tourism, both in their production and consumption′ - Planning Practice and Research
`It is a readable and stimulating account of many aspects of the sociology of contemporary tourism. For anybody interested academically or professionally in tourism this book is well worth reading. It should give you lots of ideas, challenge several of your preconceptions, and help keep you up to date with intellectual fashions′ - Environment and Planning
`Provides a number of interesting perspectives that amount to more than an introduction to the sociology of tourism′ - Annals of Tourism Research
`Urry is primarily concerned with the construction of the tourist perspective and the way in which places are appropriated for experience and communication by different social groups in different epochs. In this he is eminently successful′ - Area
`There is much to be applauded here...this is an engaging and thought provoking book which should be read by those interested in advertising and the changing nature of contemporary culture′ - Contemporary Sociology
`This is a good sociological study with valuable specifics on British seaside resorts, the marketing of `friendliness′ by airlines, and other topics.′ - Canadian Literature No. 131
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780803981836 |
| ISBN 10 | 080398183X |
| Title | The Tourist Gaze |
| Author | John Urry |
| Series | Published In Association With Theory Culture And Society |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Sage Publications Ltd |
| Year published | 1990-08-06 |
| Number of pages | 200 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |
