Authenticity in North America: Place, Tourism, Heritage, Culture and the Popular Imagination

This interdisciplinary book addresses the highly relevant debates about authenticity in North America, providing a contemporary re-examination of American culture, tourism and commodification of place.

Blending social sciences and humanities research skills, it formulates an examination of the geography of authenticity in North America, and brings together studies of both rurality and urbanity across the country, exposing the many commonalities of these different landscapes. Relph stated that nostalgic places are inauthentic, yet within this work several chapters explore how festivals and visitor attractions, which cultivate place heritage appeal, are authenticated by tourists and communities, creating a shared sense of belonging. In a world of hyperreal simulacra, post-truth and fake news, this book bucks the trend by demonstrating that authenticity can be found everywhere: in a mouthful of food, in a few bars of a Beach Boys song, in a statue of a troll, in a diffuse magical atmosphere, in the weirdness of the ungentrified streets.

Written by a range of leading experts, this book offers a contemporary view of American authenticity, tourism, identity and culture. It will be of great interest to upper-level students, researchers and academics in Tourism, Geography, History, Cultural Studies, American Studies and Film Studies.

Dr Jane Lovell worked at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and at Canterbury City Council, where she staged events including sculpture and international light shows. At Canterbury Christ Church University, Jane specialises in teaches Heritage and Creative Industry management and Creative Places. A cultural geographer, visiting fellow at the British Library and Associate Fellow at the UCL Institute of the Americas, she explores tourism, authenticity and places, magical spaces, film locations and researches the light installations that she continues to stage.

Dr Sam Hitchmough is Senior Lecturer in American Indian History at the University of Bristol, where he is also Director of Teaching/Programme Director in the History Department. He was previously Programme Director for American Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University. His research interests include the Red Power movement, the intersection between patriotism, protest and national narratives, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows in the UK, and the use of American Indian imagery in British popular culture.