Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Spectacle of Past Violence: Travel Journalism and Dark Tourism

  • Chapter
Travel Journalism

  • 371 Accesses

Abstract

Traveling to sites that relate to disaster, tragedy and death has become an established form of tourism. The aim of this chapter is to explain the conflicted role travel journalism can play in promoting this so-called dark tourism. The question is how travel journalists — who tend to focus on more positive, light-hearted stories — produce and negotiate the boundaries, motivations and ethics of this type of macabre tourism. As a case study, this chapter investigates the ways in which US-based travel journalists have participated in the public discourses that surround Tuol Sleng, a former Cambodian primary school that became a secret prison during the Khmer Rouge era and now exists as museum. Cambodia sits on the cusp of modernity, as tourists are lured to the country by the promises of exotic beauty but also by the darkness of a violent recent history, fueling a booming tourism industry that has led to real economic gains for the country (Chheang, 2009). By examining travel journalism articles +that document visits to and histories of the site, this chapter posits that travel journalism can operate as a realm of discursive practice that helps make sense of complex realities by offering, beyond tourism’s broader commercial concerns, a mode for engaging with dark sites that preserves empathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alford, Henry (2009) ‘Banishing Ghosts in Cambodia’, New York Times, 12 March, Available at: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/travel/15cambodia.html?pagewanted=all

  • Allan, Stuart (2013) Citizen Witnessing: Key Concepts in Journalism, Malden, MA: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beech, John (2009) ‘Genocide Tourism’, in Richard Sharpley and Phillip R. Stone (eds), The Darker Side of Travel: The Theory and Practice of Dark Tourism. Buffalo: Channel View Publications, pp. 207–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biran, Avital, Poria, Yaniv and Oren, Gila (2011) ‘Sought Experiences at (Dark) Heritage Sites’, Annals of Tourism Research, 38.3, pp. 820–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourdain, Anthony (2008) ‘Introduction’, in Anthony Bourdain (ed.), America’s Best Travel Writing 2008. New York: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 2–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdain, Anthony (2011) ‘Cambodia’, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. [Television Broadcast]. The Travel Channel. Available at: http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/anthony-bourdain/episodes/cambodia

  • Bowman, Michael S. and Pezzullo, Phaedra C. (2009) ‘What’s so “Dark” about “Dark Tourism”?: Death Tours and Performance’, Tourist Studies, 9.3, pp. 187–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brinkley, Joel (2011) Cambodia’s Curse, Philadelphia: Perseus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burmon, Andrew (2010) ‘Dark Tourism’, The Atlantic Monthly, November. Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/dark-tourism/8250/

  • Buruma, Ian (2007) ‘Phnom Penh Now’, Travel + Leisure, April. Available at: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/phnom-penh-now

  • Casper, Monica J. and Moore, Lisa Jean (2009) Missing Bodies: The Politics of Visibility, New York: New York University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler, David (1999) Voices from S-21, Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chheang, Vannarith (2009) ‘State and tourism planning: A case study of Cambodia’, Tourismos, 4.1, pp. 63–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chouliaraki, Lilie (2010) ‘Humanitarian Communication Beyond a Politics of Pity’, International Journal of Cultural Studies, 13.2, pp. 107–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohane, Ondine (2012) ‘Cambodia’s Sweet Spot’, New York Times, 2 March, Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/travel/cambodia-in-and-around-kep-open-but-undeveloped.html?pagewanted=all

  • Conde Nast Traveler (2012) ‘Guide to Phnom Penh’, Available at: http://www.cntraveller.com/guides/asia/cambodia/phnom-penh/where-to-stay

  • Dale, Crispin and Robinson, Neil (2011) ‘Dark Tourism’, in Peter Robinson, Sine Heitman, and Peter Dieke (eds), Research Themes for Tourism. London: CAB International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Giangirolamo, Gianluigi (2012) ‘Dark Tourism and Horror’s Travel: Some Italian Tourist Sites’, AlmaTourism: Journal of Tourism, Culture, and Territorial Development, 3.5, pp. 123–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edkins, Jenny (2005) ‘Exposed Singularity’, Journal for Cultural Research, 9.4, pp. 359–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenreich, Ben (2009) ‘Cambodia’s Wandering Dead: The Ghosts of Genocide Pay Penance for Western Guilt’, Harper’s, April, pp. 59–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, Michel (1972 [1967]) The Archeology of Knowledge, A.M. Sheridan Smith (trans.), New York: Pantheon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, Michel (2001) Fearless Speech, Joseph Pearson (ed.), London: Semiotext(e).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, Michel (2007[1964]) ‘The Language of Space’, in Jeremy Crampton and Stuart Elden (eds), Space, Knowledge and Power: Foucault and Geography. Burlington: Ashgate, pp. 164–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, Matt (2006) ‘Why is Everyone Going to Cambodia?’ New York Times, 22 January, Available at: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/travel/22cambodia.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

  • Heikkila, Eric J. and Peycam, Philippe (2010) ‘Economic Development in the Shadow of Angkor Wat: Meaning, Legitimation and Myth’, Journal of Planning Education and Research, 29.3, pp. 294–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinton, Alexander Laban (1998) ‘Why Did You Kill?: The Cambodian Genocide and the Dark Side of Face and Honor’, Journal of Asian Studies, 57.1, pp. 93–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, Rachel (2008) ‘Dutiful Tourism: Encountering the Cambodian Genocide’, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 49.3, pp. 318–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute for Dark Tourism Research (2013) ‘Research at the IDTR’. Available at: http://www.dark-tourism.org.uk/research

  • Isaac, Rami K. and Ashworth, Gregory J. (2012) ‘Moving From Pilgrimage to “Dark” Tourism: Leveraging Tourism in Palestine’, Tourism, Culture, & Communication, 11.3, pp. 149–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Istvan, Zoltan (2003) ‘“Killing Fields” Lure Tourists in Cambodia’, National Geographic, 10 January, Available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/01/0110_030110_tvcambodia.html.

  • Iyer, Pico (1999) ‘Into the Shadows’, Time Magazine, 16 August. Available at: http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2054340,00.html

  • Kang, Eun-Jang, Scott, Noel, Lee, Timothy and Ballantyne, Roy (2011) ‘Benefits of Visiting a “Dark Tourism” Site: The Case of the Jeju April 3rd Peace Park, Korea’, Tourism Management, 33.2, pp. 257–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiernan, Ben (2002) The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power and Genocide in Cambodia Under the Khmer Rouge, 1975–979. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiernan, Ben (2004) ‘Recovering History and Justice in Cambodia’, Comparitiv, 14, pp. 76–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunzru, Hari (2007) ‘A New Day Dawns’, The Guardian, 12 May, Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/may/13/escape.generalfiction

  • Lennon, John and Foley, Malcolm (2000) Dark Tourism: The Attraction of Death and Disaster, London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, Linda (2012) ‘Solemnity and Celebration: Dark Tourism Experiences at Hollywood Forever Cemetery’, Journal of Unconventional Parks, Tourism & Recreation Research 4.1, pp. 20–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonely Planet (2012) ‘Review of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum’, Available at: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia/phnom-penh/sights/museum/ tuol-sleng-museum

  • Ly, Boreth (2003) ‘Devastated Vision(s): The Khmer Rouge Scopic Regime in Cambodia’, Art Journal, 62.1, pp. 66–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osbaldiston, Nick and Petray, Theresa (2011) ‘The Role of Horror and Dread in the Sacred Experience’, Tourist Studies, 11.2, pp. 175–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pezzullo, Phaedra C. (2009) ‘Tourist and/as disasters: Rebuilding, Remembering, and Responsibility in New Orleans’, Tourist Studies, 9.1, pp. 23–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podoshen, Jeffrey S. (2013) ‘Dark Tourism Motivations: Simulation, Emotional Contagion, and Topographic Comparison’, Tourism Management, 35, pp. 263–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Portegies, Ariane; Haan, Theo D.; Issac, Rami; and Roovers, Lucette (2011) ‘Understanding Cambodian Tourism Development through Contextual Education’, Tourism Culture & Communication 11.2, pp. 103–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potts, Tracey J. (2012) ‘“Dark Tourism” and the “Kitschification” of 9/11’, Tourist Studies, 12.3, pp. 232–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prior, Nick (2011) ‘Postmodern Restructurings’, in Sharon MacDonald (ed.), A Companion to Museum Studies. Malden: Blackwell, pp. 509–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley, Richard (2009) ‘Dark Tourism and Political Ideology: Towards a Governance Model’, in Richard Sharpley and Phillip R. Stone (eds), The Darker Side of Travel: The Theory and Practice of Dark Tourism. Buffalo: Channel View Publications, pp. 145–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley, Richard and Stone, Phillip R. (2009) ‘Life, Death, and Dark Tourism: Future Research Directions and Concluding Comments’, in Richard Sharpley and Phillip R. Stone (eds), The Darker Side of Travel: The Theory and Practice of Dark Tourism. Buffalo: Channel View Publications, pp. 247–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sites, Kevin (2006) ‘Torture Chamber: The Tuol Sleng Museum Shows the Atrocities of Khmer Rouge’, Yahoo News, 24 July, Available at: http://www.redding.com/news/2006/jul/24/torture-chamber-the-tuol-sleng-museum-shows-the/

  • Sontag, Susan (2003) Regarding the Pain of Others. New York: Picador.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spano, Susan (2011) ‘Cambodia after the Killing Fields’, Los Angeles Times, 15 May, Available at: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-killing-fields-20110515,0,425351.story?page=1\

  • Spivak, Gayatri (1988) ‘Can the Subaltern Speak?’ in Patrick Williams and Laura Chrisman (eds), Colonial Discourse and Post-Colonial Theory: A Reader. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 66–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, Phillip R. (2013) ‘Dark Tourism, Heterotopias and Postapocalyptic Places: The Case of Chernobyl’, in Leanne White and Elspeth Frew (eds), Dark Tourism and Place Identity: Managing and Interpreting Dark Places. New York: Routledge, pp. 88–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soja, Edward (1989) Postmodern Geographies: The Reassertion of Space in Critical Social Theory, New York: Verso.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taing, Judy (2012) ‘Cambodia: The Kingdom that Cries Wolf’, Article 19, 17 November, Available at: http://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/3533/en/cambodia:-the-kingdom-that-cries-wolf

  • Tyner, Justin (2008) The Killing of Cambodia: Geography, Genocide and the Unmaking of Space, Burlington, VT: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, Paul (2004) ‘Witnessing Genocide: Vigilance and Remembrance at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek’, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 18.2, pp. 234–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winter, Tim (2008) ‘Postconflict Heritage and Tourism in Cambodia: The Burden of Angkor’, International Journal of Heritage Studies, 14.6, pp. 524–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zelizer, Barbie (2010) About to Die: How News Images Move the Public, New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Brian Creech (Assistant Professor of Journalism)

Authors
  1. Brian Creech
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland University of Technology, Australia

    Folker Hanusch

  2. Boston College, USA

    Elfriede Fürsich

Copyright information

© 2014 Brian Creech

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Creech, B. (2014). The Spectacle of Past Violence: Travel Journalism and Dark Tourism. In: Hanusch, F., Fürsich, E. (eds) Travel Journalism. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137325983_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation