Culture on Tour: Ethnographies of Travel

by Edward M. Bruner

Recruited to be a lecturer on a group tour of Indonesia, Edward M. Bruner decided to make the tourists aware of tourism itself. He photographed tourists photographing Indonesians, asking the group how they felt having their pictures taken without their permission. After a dance performance, Bruner explained to the group that the exhibition was not traditional, but instead had been set up specifically for tourists. His efforts to induce reflexivity...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226077632
• ISBN13: 9780226077635
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Good Ethnography, but Not Without Problems

Bruner undoubtedly has a profound knowledge of ethnographies, and his book "Culture on Tour" clearly demonstrates a lifetime of work in the field. He adeptly raises questions about culture, authenticity, and tourism through a series of case studies. His first case study analyzes the different representations of the Maasai culture in Kenya, noting the competing frameworks that each venue emphasizes. His analysis of a former Ghanaian fort where slaves were deported to Africa similarly expresses the competing values: Should the fort represent today's culture in Ghana? Should it be preserved in a 17th century fashion to maintain the austere setting where slaves once departed? Or should it reflect the original construction from the 16th century by the Portuguese? Bruner raises these questions with a number of other case studies as well, ranging from a reconstruction of Abraham Lincoln's childhood town in Illinois to the representation of Balinese dances in Indonesia. His well-researched work provides an excellent framework for thinking about tourism, how culture is portrayed, and whether or not something can ever be completely "authentic". However, his work is not without some drawbacks. He never fully escapes from doing exactly what he preaches against--as an ethnographer, his views are still based in Western perceptions. While in the last chapter he seemingly repents for his 1930s monolithic anthropological approach in his earlier work, he still falls into the trap of cultural generalizations and biased viewpoints. While admittedly an ethnography is never completely free of these qualities, some more qualifications on his views would have been nice. Additionally, the book is in reality a series of collected essays, that he himself wrote over years, that is connected with an overarching theoretical framework of culture and tourism. While informative, the books does have an issue of continuity. Despite the drawbacks, Bruner's book is an enjoyable and informative read. His anecdotes about each situation provides a good counterpoint to prevailing views on tourism.

Fascinating collection of essays

This is a wonderfully engaging set of essays.Bruner has an artful way of mixing insightful observations about narrative and tourism with engaging ethnography. A gem of a collection!