 What is "authentic"? Why? |
What is "authentic"? Why? |
What is "authentic"? Why? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The questions may seem really simple to answer, but as I thought a little more about it, I challenged myself to ask [i]why[/i] are locations deemed "authentic" or, conversely, "touristy" and "non-authentic"? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 newplacestogo Gary Bowman Post Count: 35 Msg: #1 2 days ago, May 9th 2008 | I was standing in Plaza de la Cultura in San Jose, Costa Rica people-watching and spending a little time. San Jose - while having things very unique - also has McDonald's, Burger King, & Taco Bell within sight of the plaza. Within another block or two are most of the rest of the American fast food chains. Arguably, many would argue that these elements and perhaps San Jose itself is "touristy" or not authentic for having imported some of the States products/ideas to CR. I can understand why people might think this area is not authentic enough on a general level - the idea of importing products/ideas from another country. However, the more I thought I challenged myself and ask others their thoughts. To those living in San Jose as locals, that McDonald's is as much part of San Jose as the restaurant serving rice and beans. Furthermore, the idea of importing/exporting is obviously nothing new - just about every society does it or has it done. For those who seek the "authentic" experience, what makes it authentic? Just the lack of something we recognize as not from home? On a deeper level, do we take an attitude of deeming something worthy of our "traveling experience" only if it's really different from home and almost like an animal display in a zoo (and, for Americans and many Europeans that may mean something less financially rich...sorry if that's blunt...)? Is something "touristy" if a number of people travel there to see it, and we have to have something "non-touristy" that's just about us for it to be up to our levels of "traveling experience"? If either of the last two questions are true, of course, would seem rather arrogant of us. I hope I'm explaining myself well. | On a related note, when I was at Mitad del Mundo, there was a plaza where part of the day was a dance presentation with people dressed in traditional dress. This was clearly for the tourists there (and more likely gringos) as later in the day, the music changed to more local music and it was locals dancing in the plaza in current everyday dress. So, here's another slant on my deep questions: the intent was to make the traditional dress "authentic" and on some level was, but also was clearly contrived to entertain people. Where is the crossover point from "authentic" and "tourist"? I'm not sure it's as clear as it might seem at first... All thoughts welcome...  Mell Mel Fla Post Count: 1178 Msg: #2 1 day ago, May 10th 2008 | What I find unauthentic are the experiences one has when one cant escape the tourist bubble. | When one gets trapped in expensive organised stuff designed for tourists and there is no other option or the other options are difficult to find. Mel newplacestogo Gary Bowman Post Count: 35 Msg: #3 1 day ago, May 10th 2008 | After all my "diarrhea of the mouth" and you come with a nice simple answer! | I mostly threw the question out there because it seems that it could be such a subjective thing, what is "authentic"? The expensive part is a pretty good point...could you find the experiences without spending as much money, or how much are you paying for the convenience of not having to go look? I also think about to what extent we balance between the natural urge (that I've had too) to find something that is "just ours" and getting so hung up on it that we give ourselves something of an attitude. Okay...enough for now. I could otherwise write a whole lot more... Mell Mel Fla Post Count: 1178 Msg: #4 1 day ago, May 10th 2008 | Interesting comment about paying for the experiences. | I actually experience a lot when I am sitting around doing nothing in a cafe or sitting on a wall or sitting under a tree. The experience is not just the people who come over and talk with me but also observing what the locals are like with each other and what the tourists are doing. Around 10 years ago I remember when I was in Thailand and China and India. There was often an old hippy sitting someplace. Just sitting there with no regard for time. It was as if they were backtracking on places they had covered a million times so did not have to hurry. They were always friendly and ready to have a conversation. I think I am turning into that old hippy. When you sit there and do nothing people just come over to tell you things. You also absorb the feeling of the country. That is something that does not happen when one is trapped in a tourist bubble. All the people in that situation are trying too hard to pay for the experience or somehow find it by rushing around. Mel newplacestogo Gary Bowman Post Count: 35 Msg: #5 1 day ago, May 10th 2008 | Absolutely excellent points you make, Mel...I can completely agree with your thinking there. Admittedly, sometimes it's nice to pay for someone's knowledge about an area generally to give you a guide of where you might want to go later...at least that's the pretense I think about going on tours and such. That said, just people-watching can give you a whole lot of experiences. I would agree those definitely have a more authentic feel. | I don't know if I'll become an old hippy, though...maybe still too much of another world in me, for better or worse... Mell Mel Fla Post Count: 1178 Msg: #6 1 day ago, May 11th 2008 | Some of them are certainly worth paying for Gary. When I really feel I am getting something good I buy it too. | Good service, good restaurant, good hotel room.... But much of the time when these things are specifically aimed at tourists they are nothing but plastic tat. That is when I resent having to pay so much. I would prefer to use the services provided by the ordinary locals who run simple establishments at a price relevant to that particular country. One ''tourist trap'' I was surprised to like was Phukett. I wanted to take a look at what everybody loved so much, because it is a popular destination. I thought I would get trapped in that awful tourist bubble. I loved the place. It is a Thai island but with many of the things we Westerners like to have everyday. Good coffee, bakeries, good restaurants.......You could get around on the local buses or you could hire a guide....... You could have a pick and mix of the backpacker and more upmarket tourist life or else you could be a package tourist and stay on a resort..... You could go to a beach that looks like one in the US or you could go to one with that is certainly Thailand with no foreigners on it...... What I mean is you have a choice about what you think is worth doing and having. newplacestogo Gary Bowman Post Count: 35 Msg: #7 14 hours ago, May 11th 2008 | Other great points...I too have paid for some of my tours. One I specifically remember is staying in the Amazon. Now, after doing it I would say I'm not especially keen on the Amazon in general (note my blog, "from Loathing to Tolerance of Being Almost in the Middle of Nowhere". However, in retrospect I'm still glad I did it and obviously the only way to get to this spot, really, is through a tour. | Overall, though, many times I have looked for the local place that is much cheaper and not designed purely for tourists. This has been some good discussion in my mind. Yes, I could always generally answer the question I posed, but I did think if there is sometimes something we want so badly to be "just ours" that we forget that sometimes the big tourist draws are big for a reason - they're interesting! Take care... Number of Users: 2 | Number of Posts: 7 | |||||||||||||||
