Shock Tourism – between Sensation and Empathy. 9/11 Case Study

Abstract

Purpose. The attempt to create a definition of the shock tourism as a type of dark tourism. The phenomenon of spontaneous travels to sites of disasters was first described from the anthropological perspective by Chris Rojek in 1993. He used the term black spots, referring to places that became travel destinations in reaction to current media coverage (spotlights). In Polish research we hitherto lack the translation of this term, as well as explicit descriptions of travels which are the immediate result of current media coverage. The proposed definition of shock tourism will be presented not only as a kind of „sensation tourism”. The visitors, through their presence, not only influence the shape of memory sites but they also take part in creating the memory of tragic events. The example of New York’s Ground Zero shows us how much, over the course of recent years, not only the physical space of the site, but also its symbolic dimensions have changed. The narration of 11th September National Museum, the 9/11 Memorial Site and the work of non-profit 9/11 Tribute Center contribute to changing the perception of „shock sites” from lieux de l’imagination to lieux de mémoire. Method. Fieldwork, participant observation (an analysis of narratives of 9/11 National Museum and Memory Site; observation of tourists’ and tour guides behaviour). Findings. An analysis of narratives of 9/11 National Museum and Memori Site, as well as the activity of 9/11 Tribute Center became a starting point to further considerations on the role of tourists in creating postmodern lieux de mémoire. Research and conclusions limitations. Limited time of fieldwork (10 days). Originality. The paper concerns postmodern phenomenon of the evolution od post-disaster sites into the memorylands, according to Sharon Macdonald’s concept. The framework of shock tourism opens new horizons and research perspectives of this process. Type of paper. Theoretical paper based on case study of 9/11.