Marc Augé was right, sadly the battle is lost. The future beyond Starbucks and McDonalds is endless copies of banal places. Like the empty pancakes they serve.
Great article, I totally agree with you! The problem is so deep, it not only comes from the pandemic, in SouthernEeurope and in Portugal in particular, mass tourism was the governments' solution to the 2008 economic crisis, which has resulted in all you say, like the horrendous toy sardine shops. I was sad to see al the traditional mercearias disappear from rua do Arsenal in Lisbon, to be replaced with these shops or the cafes you talk about. Also, the instagrammisation of our lives and in particular of the eating aspect of them has made our collective idea of eating a cloned experience, so we unconsciously go for the “pretty thing” , whether we share it or not, that will make us feel validation and approval. Another thing that happened as a result of social media is that nobody considers themselves a tourist anymore, but a traveller, living their very unique informed experience, as clearly exemplified by the couple in Barcelona, so none of us takes responsibility for this kind of behaviour.
Thank you for the comment! I think you nailed pretty well one of the issues I didn’t in my article: the fact that through social media all the people feel “famous” and therefore “doing meaningful things that are worthy of showing to others” in an endless continuum.
If I look back to the past, less people traveled also because it was not “sexy” and nobody cared about our pictures- in the end. But as you say, now that we can snap a pic and post it, we feel we are not tourists but “doing something” (even “influencing”)!
It does sound like Melbourne... plus we have flowers on our plates, revamped recycled repurposed environments and furniture, more food intolerances than people, and we allegedly drink coffee out of cut avocado. Yeah you should visit!
Yes, the experience of the tourist remained locked in the pictures we'd show at home, and curated content hadn't strangled all life. Still, I loved your post, it is totally spot on and it is such a shame that's happening in every city.
Great article, I totally agree with you! The problem is so deep, it not only comes from the pandemic, in SouthernEeurope and in Portugal in particular, mass tourism was the governments' solution to the 2008 economic crisis, which has resulted in all you say, like the horrendous toy sardine shops. I was sad to see al the traditional mercearias disappear from rua do Arsenal in Lisbon, to be replaced with these shops or the cafes you talk about. Also, the instagrammisation of our lives and in particular of the eating aspect of them has made our collective idea of eating a cloned experience, so we unconsciously go for the “pretty thing” , whether we share it or not, that will make us feel validation and approval. Another thing that happened as a result of social media is that nobody considers themselves a tourist anymore, but a traveller, living their very unique informed experience, as clearly exemplified by the couple in Barcelona, so none of us takes responsibility for this kind of behaviour.
Thank you for the comment! I think you nailed pretty well one of the issues I didn’t in my article: the fact that through social media all the people feel “famous” and therefore “doing meaningful things that are worthy of showing to others” in an endless continuum.
If I look back to the past, less people traveled also because it was not “sexy” and nobody cared about our pictures- in the end. But as you say, now that we can snap a pic and post it, we feel we are not tourists but “doing something” (even “influencing”)!
It does sound like Melbourne... plus we have flowers on our plates, revamped recycled repurposed environments and furniture, more food intolerances than people, and we allegedly drink coffee out of cut avocado. Yeah you should visit!
Melbourne IS the place I can think of that most has hopped on the “non food” trope. And it’s not because of the hipsters! Yes I should visit indeed!
Yes, the experience of the tourist remained locked in the pictures we'd show at home, and curated content hadn't strangled all life. Still, I loved your post, it is totally spot on and it is such a shame that's happening in every city.