Experiencing heritage : making sense of industrial heritage tourism

Baldwin, Deborah (1999) Experiencing heritage : making sense of industrial heritage tourism. PhD thesis, University of Gloucestershire.

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Abstract

The study connects two current debates in geography, on the politics of representation (the 'cultural turn') and the production and consumption of heritage. The thesis argues that, at present, heritage discourse is in a state of polarised suspension, in need of advancement. There has been a neglect of the voices of those who work within the heritage 'industry' (those who write museum 'texts') and of those who are receptive to these representations of the past. In recognition of such absences, the thesis lends empirical weight, via a qualitative study, to those who seek to challenge the polarity of heritage discourse. Moreover, the thesis unpacks the mediated nature of representations of times past through an examination of three perceived 'bases to authenticity' where 'truth' is said to reside: the built environment, oral history and expert history. The contours of this mediation are drawn out to illustrate how representations of the past are social and cultural constructs. Advancing an understanding of the complexities inherent in the writing and reading of representations of the past, I reject traditional 'consumption' theories, arguing that they are too simplistic to unpack the contours of the producer/consumer relationship. Instead I draw on Becker' s ( 1982) model of the 'art world'. I argue and demonstrate that 'cultural conventions' are operating within museums and heritage themed attractions which guide and shape the construction of meaning in the process of experiencing heritage.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Thesis Advisors:
Thesis AdvisorEmailURL
Mills, Carolinecmills@glos.ac.ukhttps://www.glos.ac.uk/staff/profile/caroline-mills/
Jackson, PeterUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Charlesworth, AndrewUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: A print copy of this thesis is available for reference use only. PhD submitted to the University of Bristol through Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education which later became the University of Gloucestershire
Uncontrolled Keywords: Heritage industry; Heritage discourse; Cultural consumerism; Cultural authenticity; Heritage experience
Related URLs:
Subjects: D History General and Old World > D History (General)
D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure
Divisions: Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Applied Sciences
Depositing User: Susan Turner
Date Deposited: 08 Feb 2022 11:25
Last Modified: 31 Aug 2023 08:59
URI: https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/10670

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