Dark tourism and affect: framing places of death and disaster

Abstract

This conceptual article brings to the attention of tourism scholars new possibilities to theorize dark tourism as an affective socio-spatial encounter. To do so, we frame dark tourism within theories of affect and, in particular, geographies of affect. We show how debates around dark tourism terminology and taxonomies, in most cases underlie considerations on felt, affective aspects of the dark tourism experience. We critically debate the concept of affect, the distinctions between affects and emotions, and the complex issue of representability of affect. Our perspective is underpinned by a necessity to consider the context and limitations that frame the affective experience of the tourist and the resulting encounters. This offers a deeper layer of understanding tourists' experiences in death and disaster places as well as the political and ethical charge imbued in such encounters.

Thanatology Tourism in Nepal Himalayan Region: A Case of Langtang

“…Th e locution 'dark tourism' has undergone critical scrutiny, as detractors claim that it entails negative cultural connotations (Dunnett, 2014;Edensor, 2013;in Martini & Buda, 2020), and prefer defi nitions perceived as more neutral, such as thanatourism. Regardless of the word used to describe visits to places related to death, negativity may be implied because of wider morality and mortality subtexts (Stone, 2006).…”

“…Regardless of the word used to describe visits to places related to death, negativity may be implied because of wider morality and mortality subtexts (Stone, 2006). Dark places are discursive formations that can infl uence or be infl uenced by perceptions, imageries and bodily practices, which may bring with itself a connotation of ghastly, negative and destructive (Sather-Wagstaff , 2011, p. 72), but also of the new or exciting (Edensor, 2013;in Martini & Buda, 2020)). Dark recalls diabolism, deviancy, monstrosity, death and chaos (Koslofsky, 2011).…”

“…Dark recalls diabolism, deviancy, monstrosity, death and chaos (Koslofsky, 2011). Nonetheless the imageries associated with darkness, night, and obscurity, have been portrayed also through positive qualities: it is the time of experimentation, excitement, and spectacle (Edensor, 2013, p. 2;Martini & Buda, 2020).Moreover, not only does 'dark' not always equate with negative, but dark places cannot be considered solely as vehicles of refl ection on death, as it diminishes the importance of the spatial characteristics and agency of the tourist (Bowman & Pezzullo, 2009;in Martini & Buda, 2020).…”

Summers of war. Affective volunteer tourism to former war sites in Europe

“…When thinking about confrontations with remnants of war and violence, different affects, emotions and experiences are at play. Nevertheless, visits to places associated with war and violence are often emotional (Martini & Buda, 2020;Nawijn et al, 2016). As such, the combination of volunteer and war tourism presents a relevant case for researching affect and emotion in tourism.…”

“…Emotion and affect have only recently been included in tourism research, and applicable theories of emotion and affect are in development (Buda, 2015, pp. 25-29;Martini & Buda, 2020). When discussing affect and emotion in tourism, scholars rely on studies done within a broad range of scientific fields, such as critical theory, feminist studies, geography, psychology or neuroscience.…”