This week we had a guest speaker, Anne Buchmann, to talk about authenticity in film tourism, specifically relating to Lord of the Rings tours in New Zealand. This was a really interesting class, especially hearing from someone who has spent so much time researching in the one country, and also someone who is quite young and new(ish) to the research/academic scene.
I liked the fact that Anne identified that film tourists to New Zealand wanted to experience both the 'real' NZ and also the more 'fantastical' Middle-Earth... They expected to see both in the one place. It was also interesting to learn that most people going on the tours had only seen the movies one or two times, if that, and less had read Tolkien's book. Therefore, none of the film tourists saw themselves as film fanatics, even though they have come from far and wide to witness something they've seen in a film. I wonder if there is ever a point where someone believes that they're now a film fanatic...?
Anne also noted that they anticipated an authentic and sincere experience, which is interesting, the notion of someone wanting an 'authentic' experience of an 'imaginary' world. Sorta seems like the two might cancel each other out... It was also interesting hearing what the tour groups considered authentic, from being influenced by the 'making of' videos from the LOTR dvds, and other clips on New Zealand. They enjoyed meeting people that were extras in the films, especially if they were in their 'authentic' costumes, which mostly were just made out of fabric and plastic, so really, weren't real at all.
It was a great insight into the minds of tourists in a tour group, and raised some interesting points about authenticity and people's perceptions and expectations.
This is the second last reflective journal entry that I have to write! The last one is just a summary and final reflections on the subject, then I can hand it in and cross off one more assignment from the to do list! Exciting times!
xox
