Tourists at the Taj: Performance and Meaning at a Symbolic SiteThe Taj Mahal has long been a subject for photography and poetry, but this book presents the first sociological analysis of the Taj as a cultural phenomenon. Tim Edensor examines the conflicting narratives which surround the site: postcolonial views of the monument as a symbol of love, of India and of splendid exuberance; and those which challenge this ethnocentricity, for whom the Taj is the symbolic center of Islamic power or a site of Moghul appropriation. He discusses many of the tourist practices around the Taj and considers the notion of tourism in a wider context. Clearly written and fascinatingly illustrated, this book describes tourism as "performance" and the tourist site as a "stage" on which tourists are directed and rehearsed, improvising cultural conventions in the complex production of leisure space.--Publisher description. |
Contents
Constructing tourist space | 10 |
The regulation of tourist space | 41 |
Narratives of the Taj Mahal | 69 |
Walking gazing photographing and remembering at the Taj | 105 |
Enclavic and heterogenous tourist spaces in Agra | 149 |
Tourist plans for Agra and the Taj | 181 |
Conclusion | 200 |
| 205 | |
| 215 | |
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Common terms and phrases
activities aesthetic Agra Cantonment Agra Fort Ajmer attractions backpackers building centres chapter classified space colonial commodified constructed contemporary contested continue conventions cultural desire discourses discussed distinct diverse domestic tourists dominant emporia enacted enclavic space enclavic tourist space experience family party forms of tourist Ganj geography global globalising groups guides heterogeneous tourist space highlight Hindu identify identity images imagined geographies improvisational incorporated increasingly India instance Islamic itineraries Jamuna River landscape Mahal marble Mathura meaning mediatised memories Moghul monument movement Muslim narratives norms organised package tourists particular photographs pilgrimage places political processes production realm regulated religious representations rituals romantic sacred secular sense sensual Shahjahan sights social spatial spatial networks stage stories symbolic sites Taj Ganj Taj Mahal themes tion tourism in India tourist gaze tourist performance tourist practices tourist sites two-week package tour typified visitors visual Western tourists Whilst
Popular passages
Page vi - Henceforth, let the inhabitants of the world be divided into two classes — them as has seen the Taj Mahal ; and them as hasn't.