A few years back I carried out a small-scale ethnographic research on the question to what extent are tourists genuinely interested in historical monuments and art pieces, after they have made the effort to travel far to see them. My observations were rather entertaining, but also thought provoking.
While sitting for hours at a tourist historical attraction, I observed that most of the tourist seemed predominantly bored by the monuments and historical sites they were visited and lacked a genuine interest for what they were visiting. A tour guide on one site told me that the first questions at the beginnings of guided visits to the site was usually: “How long is this going to last?” It seemed that tourist felt they just had to do it, to tick it off the list so they could, without guilt, retreat back to their beers, hotels, shopping, beaches…
But the entertaining part was to observe the choreography of a typical visit, for instance at the archaeological site. Nearly all parties carried a photo or a video camera – in most cases men were using them, sometimes women, but never both. On the other hand, women were as a rule carrying and studying the map of the site. The standard procedure for the couple at the site was that, after reaching an individual monument, men would take couple of photographs or video shots while women would study the map and try to locate their position on it. After both, the photographer and the navigator, completed their tasks, a tiny satisfaction could be observed on their faces; they looked around for a moment, seemingly trying to figure out what more was there to do at the spot, and than continued to the next monument.
In extreme cases the camera person was continuously making video recordings throughout all the journey around the site, with the navigator quietly leading the way and briefly pausing at the monuments.
So, men definitely looked like hunters, shooting down every single trophy at least half a dozen times, while women supported and lead them, did some intellectual and parenting work… Pretty archetypical. And, oh boy, were there many nervous conflicts to be observed.
So, this time I visited Louvre in Paris because of my daughter mainly (I have visited it before, in a much less crowded time of the year) and while finding our way through the crowd…
…I was automatically continuing with my observations. So here are people worshipping the Mona Lisa…
…and then the Venus.
So, this leads me back to the question: “Why travel?”
I honestly don’t know about the picture thing. My husband is definitely one of those people who likes to get a lot of photos and angles in his search of perfection and art.
I don’t mind one picture (my mind is a sieve when it comes to retaining information or memories). That way I have something to job my memory about what a fantastic trip I’ve taken.
Personally, I like to do a lot of ‘laying about’ followed by swimming in tropical waters, with yet some more ‘laying about’. Hopefully I have a banging book to read while I heat up enough to make the warm ocean waters feel cool.
Comment by Hayden Tompkins — August 20, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
When I read this, I was reminded of an episode of the PBS radio program, This American Life, in which writer David Sedaris states his belief that most people go to the Louvre or other tourist sites because that’s what they are supposed to do when in Paris. He’s lived there for years and has never been. If you want to listen, here’s a link: http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1147
Interesting observations on the behavior differences between male and female tourists, the hunters and the planners.
Comment by Jennifer — August 21, 2008 @ 6:07 am
I laughed out loud over this post. I was also very impressed with your observational skills, not that they surprise me coming from you. Nonetheless I was tickled and thought, “Yeah, that seems to pretty much cover it….at least any where I’ve been. Wonderful that you are this observant. This piece is very well written.
I was at the Louvre when I was really young and I was almost the only one walking it’s halls. At the time we were not allowed to take pictures but I had no desire to anyway. I tend to look at things like the Mona Lisa or other works of art and think about the person who created them, what were they like, why did they create this, how did they feel…in other words who were they? That often interests me the most…if there is a story behind it. Or if a piece of art moves me emotionally in a way I find pleasing.
Comment by Robin Easton — August 21, 2008 @ 9:03 pm
Hayden, yeah, I also love to take a photo or two, to sort of try to imprint the feeling of the moment in order to be reminded again of it. But I was observing people taking a few dozens of photos on one historical site in an hour or so! Without really seeing anything. So, I cannot imagine what they do with thousands of photos after a one-week trip to some place. Torture relatives with them?
Jennifer, yeah, this is what I was talking about. I will try to have listen to the radio episode. Thanks for sharing this.
Robin, my theory is that after the Da Vinci Code things went downhill in Louvre. I was there about 7 years ago and things were much more peaceful, probably only about 20% of today’s amount of visitors around. I could swear that Mona Lisa was in a smaller room… It was completely possible to wander around, stop in peace in front of painting and get lost in thoughts and feelings for a longer time, without being disturbed. But nowadays it is like a metro station in London or some place, you are being carried around with the flow. I did not enjoy a bit.
Ladies, have I ever told you that I am so happy to see you girls dropping by and commenting so often? Thanks a lot.
Comment by Robert — August 21, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
WOW? SO many people at a museum? I could never imagine that, being a kid who never went to the museum or maybe once…which I don’t remember at all…
Its a cultural element I guess…which we didn’t have while growing up…
Comment by UTP — August 22, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
Lol oh boy the first time I visited Paris I was too busy experiencing the dancing night life and other historical monuments such as the eiffel and the (don’t laugh) Pere le Chaise cemetery (oooooh AND Eurodisney). On my second trip though I did venture through the Louvre and was stunned by the many artifacts and artwork that were skipped over for the mass exodus towards the Mona. I would’ve liked some quiet time to absorb her beauty but with all those cameras going off and the noise she and I just shared a nod or two and I went off to go find more Rafael and the likes there of. Nuts really. On my third trip I think I will spend a couple of days roaming their halls, quiet season is winter right?
Comment by SanityFound — August 22, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
Two part reason for this note…
1) I’ve been reading through your posts and am really enjoying your insights. Thanks for taking the time to keep up the blog!
2) Would you be interested in receiving a copy of “The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work,” a newly released book by Jon Gordon? We’re interested in a review of the book or its concepts. I think you’d enjoy the premise of the book and some of the stats that Jon speaks to… such as how negativity costs companies $250-300 billion a year, according to Gallup. How various surveys say that 70-80% of people hate their jobs. And how more people die Monday morning at 9am than any other time. It’s really a book about developing positive solutions. This is not a bullet points, 10-step program book. It’s a real story with characters and drama. Readers learn a ton in the process.
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Thanks and please let me know if you’d like to check out the book.
:: Jim Van Allan
727-642-7615
Jim@JonGordon.com
Comment by Jim Van Allan — August 22, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
UTP, perhaps you want to expand your horizons and try a gallery or two sometimes, it can be really nice to be there alone with pieces of art. Meaning that Louvre in the Summer is not something to do.
Sanity, my dear friend, winter used to be quiet at Louvre before The Da Vinci Code, but I am not sure whether Mona gets any rest at all nowadays, with special tours following the trail from the book. Check it out on some travel forums before you decide; I tend to use Lonely Planet’s Thorntree for that matter.
Jim, thanks for your trust, I will have a look at it.
Comment by Robert — August 22, 2008 @ 7:55 pm