Authenticity in North America: Place, Tourism, Heritage, Culture and the Popular Imagination

This book examines the debates about authenticity in North America, exploring how festivals and visitor attractions create a shared sense of belonging and demonstrate that authenticity can be found in various places, such as food, music, statues, and ungentrified streets. Written by leading experts, it offers a contemporary view of American authenticity, tourism, identity, and culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive and interdisciplinary book delves into the critical discussions surrounding authenticity in North America, offering a fresh perspective on American culture, tourism, and the commodification of place. By seamlessly blending social sciences and humanities research methodologies, it conducts an in-depth examination of the geography of authenticity across the United States, highlighting the shared characteristics of both rural and urban landscapes.

Relph, in his work, challenges the notion of nostalgic places being inauthentic, while simultaneously exploring how festivals and visitor attractions, which cultivate place heritage appeal, are authenticated by tourists and communities, fostering a sense of belonging. In a world characterized by hyperreal simulacra, post-truth, and fake news, this book stands out as a testament to the fact that authenticity can be found in myriad unexpected places: a mouthful of food, a few bars of a Beach Boys song, a statue of a troll, a diffuse magical atmosphere, and even in the peculiarity of ungentrified streets.

Written by a diverse group of esteemed experts, this book provides a contemporary understanding of American authenticity, tourism, identity, and culture. It holds immense appeal to upper-level students, researchers, and academics specializing in Tourism, Geography, History, Cultural Studies, American Studies, and Film Studies.

Weight: 410g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032337616