Le patrimoine culturel et touristique des Etats-Unis

PATRIMOINE US

Cultural heritage can be seen as a form of tourism: a component of tourism industry.

Low – high culture.

National – Local histories: ++ diversity.

INTRODUCTION

I. Historical background

Tourism has always existed, but 1960-70s: sociologists economists, historians... started to focus on it, sociological study of tourism → has become a field of its own.

Tourism = practice of travelling for recreation. → one is moving out of his daily environment/life place.

There has been an evolution of this form of tourism.

Economic perspective: organisation and operation of vacation and visits to places of interest.

1. 1st form of tourism

Tourism appeared end XVIIc, mostly in Europe, became a popular activity; reserved to the aristocracy = elite of society.

Most popular form of early tourism: the Grand Tour: initially, reserved to son s of the aristocracy, who belonged to this particular class of society (typically European). Educational goal/ambition: to open up their minds (→ often compared to Erasmus exchanges, Gap year experiences today).

For them, a little bit of a ritual, almost a compulsory step, part of progression of young men into adulthood, symbol 1st step into adulthood, towards becoming men.

Not an accidental activity. A paradox: aristocrats characterised by their idleness, didn't work for money. But tourism had some sort of a professional oriented objective / a social objective.

Objectives:

- Discovery of national history of European countries / histories of European nations.

- To learn/discover new languages

- Cultural orientation: European architecture and art

- European philosophy: would meet writers, philosophers, politicians

- create a network of wealthy aristocratic families in Europe, relations/bonds throughout Europe.

→ Not exclusively intended for relaxation/comfort like today, there was something behind => paradoxical for this class of society.

Late XVIIIc, opened a little bit => middle classes ++, Europe ++. Emergence of spa towns, + infrastructures that resemble tourism infrastructures today. Pioneering step.

England ++: had dvped sea resorts.

Goal: to socialise and medical dimension. Not for everyone (upper middle class).

Objective still corresponded to what the aristocrats wanted, + medical aspect.

Late XVIIIc, relative popularisation/generalisation tourism as an activity.

US: didn't exist yet: emerging at that time, nascent nation/country. Appeared about a century later, end XIX-early XXc.

Tourism bf 2nd &/2 XIXc: always +/- socially related/connected, economically related. Connected with social position of a person. Weren't called “tourists” yet.

Travelling/tourism not an experience without meaning/purpose (unlike today: only to take a break from work/your everyday life...).

Turning point XIXc: 1st aspects tourism appeared in Europe. Started to become an activity which implied the idea of moving away “to see objects for reasons unconnected with work or business” - The Tourist Gaze, John Urry. New emerging trend.

Possible thanks to modernisation/exploitation transportation, train ++. → Helped popularise, democratise tourism as a more widespread activity.

Became an indicator of people's social class, a form of social marker → defined a person's social status in society.

Travel destination = decisive indicator of who the person was in society.

→ Sea resorts: exactly what it tends to demonstrate, even today: St Tropez/near Montpellier => different classes of tourists targeted.

The whole language used around these sea/ski resorts corresponds to a particular type a tourists (family / sports oriented...)

Travelling/tourism became a major part of modern life.

=> differences began to appear between different classes/types of travellers, and not travellers vs non-travellers anymore.

Marketing, advertising strategies XX-XXIc = results of this evolution. Represents the chronological evolution of travelling/tourism in western societies.

US: travelling/tour dvped and followed exactly the same pattern, directly influenced by Europe.

→ different classes/types of tourists and of tourist activities: completely valid with the US (sea/ski station).

Ski resorts US 1930s: 1st built. Artificial dvt of natural environment when skiing became a popular activity; directly imported from (central) Europe. Became popular with the elites who brought it back after travelling to Europe (E. Hemingway...). Oldest ski resort in the US = Sun Valley in the State of Idaho. Prestigious resort in Aspin, Colorado.

As mass tourism appeared, shift from social activity to activity for relaxation. No more work/social bonds; concentrated on having a break from everyday life, relaxation.

II. Tourism theories

1960-70s: sociologists, historians came to consider tourism as an activity worth studying.

Since then, tourism theories, changed with time. Opposed, completed each other... Also followed the evolution of society/philosophy...

Tourism becoming an activity; people = social actors.

Tourism = act clearly part of society, implies a form of social interaction, tourists = social actors. Can be seen as a metonymy/microcosm for society.

1. Daniel Boorstin

1961: one of the first commentators of tourism. Had a very critical view/perspective on tourism and particularly on mass tourism, denounced it, saw it as accumulation of inauthentic artificial activities; in artificial places. → aimed at stigmatising mass tourism as an artificial activity; completely outside of the real world. Inauthentic attraction outside the real world.

Book: The Image: A guide to Pseudo-Events in America. Criticised ++ dvt tourism in the US, denouncing fabrications/illusions that tourism implied.

...