IDS 2160 Spring 2023 Ward

Most of us are very familiar with tourists and tourism. We’re less familiar, perhaps, with the history of tourism, of the relationship between tourism and colonialism and imperialism, of the impacts of tourism on communities and peoples where tourists visit, and of the broader impact of tourism at individual, regional, national, and global levels. Through an exploration of tourism scholarship, travel writing, literature, and film, we will explore, discuss, and thoughtfully respond to questions—sometimes uncomfortable questions— about the good, the bad, and the ugly of tourism and tourists.

This course is designed to help students think critically about cultures with which they are familiar, to learn about cultures with which they are less familiar, and to navigate the complex ways they perceive and participate in and with multiple cultures. At the end of this semester, students will have explored a variety of cultural artifacts related to tourism and tourists—from newspaper articles to novels, from films to scholarly essays. They will have expanded their critical vocabulary and engaged with concepts necessary to analyze and interpret such artifacts and to generate critical responses through formal and reflective writing, individual and group projects, and other relevant activities. Over the course of the semester, successful students will have acquired skills, knowledges, and strategies that will enhance their success in this and future courses across disciplines.