Different Strokes for Different Folks

Climbing Towards Enlightenment

Although Erik Cohen writes in his article “A Phenomenology of Tourist Experience” that his “modes [of tourism] were separated for analytical purposes” and that “any individual tourist may experience several modes on a single trip,” it is my belief that most tourists identify with one of the modes more than any other. Each of the protagonists of which we have read so far this semester has been complex, but mainly fits the characteristics of a particular mode. Each of the five modes that Cohen describes is exemplified in various books from our syllabus.

Daisy Miller is the obvious example of the Recreational Tourist. Although she does not go for the expressed purpose of reinvigorating herself, she does not attempt to learn anything from her experience abroad and seems to simply want to enjoy herself. As Cohen notes, “forms of mass-entertainment, recreational tourism appears from the perspective of ‘high’ culture as shallow, superficial, trivial and often frivolous activity, and is ridiculed” (Cohen 184). Daisy Miller is indeed ridiculed by other members of the American tourists for not being more sophisticated and restrained. She was, however, just trying to have a good vacation that would result in her happiness, regardless of what others thought of her.

Mary and Colin from The Comfort of Strangers are a good example of Diversionary Tourists. The main reason they went on the trip was out of sheer boredom with everyday life. They wanted to escape normal existence for a little bit. This fits perfectly with Cohen’s description of a Diversionary Tourist as someone looking for “a mere escape from the boredom and meaninglessness of routine…into the forgetfulness of a vacation” (Cohen 185). This type of tourist simply wants to get away from his or her life and avoid their problems, even if only temporarily. Mary and Colin seem to go one their vacation just because they had nothing better to do. They accept that modern couples are expected to take vacations and go because they can’t find a good reason not to go. But the problem that stems from this is that they don’t care to do anything. They are completely apathetic and indifferent towards their vacation.

Marlow, the narrator of Heart of Darkness, is a traveler who wants to experience a completely alien culture, but consciously keeps his distance and remains an outsider, which is what makes him such a perfect example of an Experiential Tourist. He wishes to experience a culture, but recognizes that he is not a part of it and keeps his distance. Cohen describes the Experiential traveler as someone who has been alienated from their own society and “look[s] for meaning in the life of others” (Cohen 185). For Marlow, reading about Africa in a book was not good enough, he had to see and experience it first hand. The Experiential tourist is best at observing, something that Marlow demonstrates time and again through his detached narrative style. He seeks to learn about, but not participate in the local culture. He feels satisfied that even though his society is not “authentic”, authenticity does exit elsewhere in the world.

A character that can be considered an Experimental Tourist is Jake Barnes from The Sun Also Rises. He throws himself into his travels abroad and takes up an indefinite residence in Europe. As an expatriate, he takes the Experimental tourist creed seriously and makes it his goal to experience the authenticity of European society himself. He prefers to hang out with the locals and integrate himself into their company. Jake derives the most happiness and authenticity when he is able to partake in manly pursuits such as fishing and fighting. He feels that life must be experienced first hand by experimenting with new ways of doing things. The “eternal seeker” that Cohen describes as the Experimental Tourist is seen in Jake’s quest to find fulfillment in his meaningless life.

Although we have not technically reached it in our syllabus, I have decided that Qindil Muhammad al-Innabi from The Journey of Ibn Fattouma is by far the most Existential tourist I have encountered. He completely immerses himself in the local culture; even living as a member of most of the places he visits. Over the course of his journey, he sets up permanent residences in three towns and families in two. Although he does insist on keeping his former religious center, he does fully become a part of most of the societies he visits and actively studies the ways of life in each place. He is very curious and genuinely interested in learning about the places he travels and the reasons behind the customs. His values and perceptions are visibly altered by the way that his beliefs interact with those around him. His mind is expanded and opened, just as the Experimental Tourist hopes it will. It is in this way that Qindil demonstrates the deepest mode of travel.