Beyond the Giralda: Residents’ interpretations of the Seville portrayed in fictional movies and TV series

Abstract

This article aims to widen the discussion on destination images and imaginaries circulated via fictional movies and TV series. In particular, it analyzes how people living in film locations interpret media portrayals of their place of residence, which is an uncommon approach in the research conducted to date. To this end, an exploratory qualitative study was carried out in the city of Seville, Spain, which has appeared in multiple movies and TV series. Interviews were conducted with a heterogenous group of 23 residents and the data were assessed using a thematic analysis. The results illustrate the pivotal role of personal experiences of a place, or an absence thereof, in the decoding processes undertaken, as exemplified by the ways in which the interviewees interpreted the portrayal of local social issues and marginal areas of the city. The findings also uncover a desire to see a more diverse and accurate depiction of Seville on screen.