Commentary 1 : "The Tourist" Dean MacCallen
“Revolutionary Tourist” is described by Allan Wall, a reporter for CNN, as the alternative kind of tourism that reside in sites of social interventions. The visitors search for experiences that are not for entertainment, but in an abnormal way involves a cultural experience.
“Revolutionary Tourist” is described by Allan Wall, a reporter for CNN, as the alternative kind of tourism that reside in sites of social interventions. The visitors search for experiences that are not for entertainment, but in an abnormal way involves a cultural experience. During the last year Oaxaca, a beautiful and well-known tourist city in Mexico has been the site of violent acts against peaceful protestors. While in this time, groups of foreign people had continued to arrive to the city, the common tourist avoids this location. It is interesting to analyze this shift towards “revolutionary tourism” through MacCannell´s front-back region concept. According to him, the front region constitutes areas that create an efficient communication and service for the visitor, while the back region is a hidden space to prepare the tourist experience.
The front- back region, represented by the sites of protest, brings to the visitors experiences that are not designed for a traditional knowledge of tourism and transforms it as they become part of the events. This blurs the line between the front and back region underlining the diversity and flexibility of the bodies in these social acts. In addition, it combines the individual desire to have a cultural experience and become part of social movement as they risk their life. Oaxaca is just a small example of revolutionary tourisism, but in stressful moments such as theirs the concern of a stranger penetrating the back region becomes irrelevant. It transforms the situation by absorbing the visitor as a part of the actions that involves him well as everyone present.