Introductory case study : tales told by a pillowcase from Chiapas -- Crafts and tourism in Oaxaca -- Tradition and tourism in festival life : shaping and marketing Oaxaca's Guelaguetza -- Southern Mexican contemporary traditional culture that is little affected by tourism -- Things fall apart : attacks on tourism in Oaxaca and the prospects for recovery
Summary
This book concerns the aesthetic, political, and socio-political aspects of tourism in southern Mexico, particularly in the state of Oaxaca. Tourists seeking "authenticity" buy crafts and festival tickets, and spend even more on travel expenses. What does a craft object or a festival moment need to look like or sound like to please both tradition bearers and tourists in terms of aesthetics? Under what conditions are transactions between these parties psychologically healthy and sustainable?