Authenticity in a Globalized World?

Local or Tourist?

MacCannell’s “Staged Authenticity” offered an interesting perspective on the role of the tourist, traveler, and local. However, I felt, overall, the article is extremely outdated and difficult to assess in relation to my experiences abroad. As I have been exploring Paris, I’ve come to realize that Globalization has truly taken hold. There are very few “undiscovered” neighborhoods, very few bars that haven’t been infiltrated with American students looking for a cheap beer. It’s harder and harder to even seek out authenticity as a tourist or traveler, as tourism has become more and more common.

On the other hand, I felt that MacCannell accurately describes the role of the tourist and the local. “The possibility that a stranger might penetrate a back region is one major source of social concern in everyday life, as much a concern to the strangers who might do the violating as to the violated” (MacCannell 591). I have very often noticed a distance between the locals and myself. As much as I would love to “infiltrate” the “back region,” I’ve found it difficult to make French friends. It is not for lack of trying, but rather protectiveness on the part of the locals and a fear of intruding on my part. MacCannell’s clarified what I could not accurately pinpoint myself. The only barrier between my superficial exploration of Paris and a deeper more authentic exploration is commonly held social standards. “Under modern conditions, the place of the individual in society is preserved in part, by newly institutionalized concerns for the authenticity of his social experiences” (MacCannell 590).

If there is one thing that I have learned since arriving in Paris, it is that the world is rapidly becoming smaller and smaller. MacCannell’s vision of authenticity, or even staged authenticity, seems too concrete for our rapidly changing world. The role of tourist is rapidly changing, as are tourist attractions, which are becoming part of the regional landscape. The Louvre is not inauthentically Parisian, nor is the cous cous vendor on the corner. They are products of need, local culture, and globalization. Authenticity doesn’t solely exist in hidden corners of the city, but rather in the circumstances that surround a place or attraction.

As tourists, I believe it is a venerable goal to strive to seek out authentic experiences. However, I am not certain that MacCannell describes those experiences accurately. Authenticity is found in the little everyday interactions and experiences, not necessarily in back regions. In a globalized society, we can not expect such concrete distinctions.

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