I am glad to see Tourismanthropology engaged in debate! To add to it:
The theoretical view from the "ivory tower" is not widely shared at the
indigenous cultural level. To wit: several years back, in a remote Greenland
village, an old lady stopped me on a path, seeking to sell a "national dress".
By the time I reached the house, word had spread via the mukluk telegraph, and
her entire extended family were crammed into the single room. I protested to
all that she should NOT sell her national heritage (well worn, to be sure) but
all they could see/hear was the
potential realization from the sale of US$500 to buy a new motor for  their
boat, and food for  the summer fishing/sealing. They did not care about the
worn out old clothes of an old lady; it was the only source of money they
could find.....
    Ethics? US government restrictions on the import of seal skin items? (And
I could use the money for something else)? An anthropological conundrum!
    What would YOU have done?



>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Dr. Raoul Bianchi
> Centre for Leisure & Tourism Studies
> Stapleton House
> University of North London
> 277-281 Holloway Road
> London N7 8HN
> ###################
> [log in to unmask]
> ###################
> Tel: +44 (0)20 7607 2789 Ext.3308
> Fax: +44 (0)20 7753 5051
>
> On Tue, 26 Sep 2000 10:35:40 +0100 Steve Butts
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Jane,
> >
> > To hone in on your interest regarding the implications for anthropology
> > and for anthropologists of the commodification of the research
> > relationship, you say we as anthropologists, and I presume tourism
> > researchers, ought to "take responsibility."  What is it you are asking
> > us to take responsibility for?  For the fact that we live in a world
> > market economy which has penetrated and commodified virtually every
> > tourist destination in the world.  Or what appears more likely, that we
> > should all somehow detach ourselves from the commodification of the
> > research relationship. I would suggest that this is impossible.  How can
> > we disengage ourselves from a market-based economy when our informants
> > are fully involved in it?  This is a not a throw our hands up in the air
> > and give up position. It is simply suggesting that we must recognize the
> > relatively new chreod we find ourselves in and work within its confines.
> > Which from where I stand is what people are doing.  If you sit at the
> > table, you've got to play the game being dealt.
> >
> > Also, there is a heavy relativistic element here which is answerable
> > only by individuals.  Some people in the group no doubt have little
> > problem with the commodification of culture or with it being an element
> > of the research relationship.  After all, what better way to understand
> > it than to participate in it?  As food for thought.
> >
> > Interested to see what you and anyone else thinks.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Steve Butts
> > Faculty of Leisure and Tourism
> > Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
> -------------------

--
Valene L. Smith
Research Professor, Anthropology
California State University
Chico CA 95929-0400, USA
Phone: 530-891-1155
FAX: 530-345-3881
Email: [log in to unmask]
Home page: http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~vsmith