Tourism-in-literature: Existential Comfort, Confrontation and Catastrophe in Guy De Maupassant’s Short Stories

Brendan Canavan

doi:10.1016/j.annals.2019.102750

Tourism-in-literature: Existential Comfort, Confrontation and Catastrophe in Guy De Maupassant’s Short Stories

Brendan Canavan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper sets out the tourism-in-literature research approach and applies to the intersection between existentialism and tourism. Illustrated is the value of reading works of literature as a means of enriching theoretical understanding within tourism studies. Reviewing selected short stories of the 19th Century French writer Guy De Maupassant, themes of existential alienation, avoidance and authenticity arise in tales involving travel. Through the unexpected events and encounters tourism allows, comforting or confrontational experiences are had by protagonists. However catastrophic developments are also catalysed. De Maupassant’s writing shows a sophisticated understanding of the possibilities of travel, including an awareness of the darker and unpredictable possibilities of tourism. Complemented is a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between existentialism and tourism.

Original language	English
Article number	102750
Number of pages	10
Journal	Annals of Tourism Research
Volume	78
Early online date	10 Jul 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2019.102750
Publication status	Published - 1 Sep 2019

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Literature-in-tourism Full Manuscript - Revision DAccepted author manuscript, 71 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Tourism-in-literature: Existential Comfort, Confrontation and Catastrophe in Guy De Maupassant{\textquoteright}s Short Stories",

abstract = "This paper sets out the tourism-in-literature research approach and applies to the intersection between existentialism and tourism. Illustrated is the value of reading works of literature as a means of enriching theoretical understanding within tourism studies. Reviewing selected short stories of the 19th Century French writer Guy De Maupassant, themes of existential alienation, avoidance and authenticity arise in tales involving travel. Through the unexpected events and encounters tourism allows, comforting or confrontational experiences are had by protagonists. However catastrophic developments are also catalysed. De Maupassant{\textquoteright}s writing shows a sophisticated understanding of the possibilities of travel, including an awareness of the darker and unpredictable possibilities of tourism. Complemented is a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between existentialism and tourism. ",

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AB - This paper sets out the tourism-in-literature research approach and applies to the intersection between existentialism and tourism. Illustrated is the value of reading works of literature as a means of enriching theoretical understanding within tourism studies. Reviewing selected short stories of the 19th Century French writer Guy De Maupassant, themes of existential alienation, avoidance and authenticity arise in tales involving travel. Through the unexpected events and encounters tourism allows, comforting or confrontational experiences are had by protagonists. However catastrophic developments are also catalysed. De Maupassant’s writing shows a sophisticated understanding of the possibilities of travel, including an awareness of the darker and unpredictable possibilities of tourism. Complemented is a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between existentialism and tourism.

KW - Tourism

KW - Literature

KW - Existential philosophy

KW - Existentialism

KW - Tourist motivation

KW - Alienation

KW - Authenticity

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DO - 10.1016/j.annals.2019.102750

M3 - Article

VL - 78

JO - Annals of Tourism Research

JF - Annals of Tourism Research

SN - 0160-7383

M1 - 102750

ER -

Tourism-in-literature: Existential Comfort, Confrontation and Catastrophe in Guy De Maupassant’s Short Stories

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