GOING ON TOUR: ART & TOURISM

Projects

1.
Seeing/Sightseeing (for groups of 2-3):
Produce an itinerary of local sightseeing attractions, utilizing MacCannell's theories of "sight sacralization" and "differentiation". The itinerary should be formed around a theme that connects at least 4 different sites, turning these sites into attractions. Document the sites in photographs and write a 300-500 word narrative statement that introduces your itinerary package, and brief descriptions of each attraction.
*Attractions should not already be considered attractions, or at least should not exist as an obvious preexisting group of sites (e.g. public sculptures, museums, 19th century buildings)
Itineraries will be distributed via annotated Google Maps created by each group.
* due in 2 weeks

2.
Front + Back Spaces (completed by groups of 2-3)
Produce an audio/video document or slide show presentation that introduces tourists (us) to a "front" and "back" space, based on the notion of "authenticity". This can be a physical or virtual space. 5-10 min.
*due in 2 weeks

3.
Mobilities - walking (completed by groups of 2-3)
A. Craft a walking tour, where the touristic experience is based on the mobility of walking, rather than on discrete sites. Emphasis should be on the movement of the tourist/audience and significant thought should be places on the linear, sequential aspect of space-time experience. A set of simple instructions for walkers should be produced - the walk will be plotted in Google Maps.
Everyone will "perform" 2 different tours and report back to the class.

4.
Dialectical Diversions
A. Self-directed group (groups of 2-4) project involving mapping techniques and the intersection of past + present. The projects should fuse a current narrative with some past not immediately visible - the future can also be incorporated. This can take a number of forms (website, audio tour, booklet/zine, performance, short documentary video, mobile media application) but must deal with the interactions between space/place/audience in a way that critically addresses the tourist paradigm of experiencing space/place - such as MacCannell's notion of "site sacralization".
* Class time should be scheduled to facilitate group meetings as well as additional class discussions.
B. Steps:
1. proposal for location(s) - present basic information on site(s) (images, data)
2. compilation of research - presentation of source material
3. proposal for media form/solution
* due last week of classes