Aesthetic Tourism 12/3/19

The discussion of aesthetic tourism as a prominent movement in modern echotourism, has made me think about how many people are following this trend without realizing it. When traveling to a new place, especially one that is foreign, people have the desire to capture their experiences through picture or video. While this is ultimately harmless, Dr. Redick made an interesting point that aesthetic tourists are more invested in capturing the subliminal quality of place. The distinction between aesthetic tourists and aesthetic sojourners comes from a difference in disposition. While tourists truly want a scenic experience, sojourners do not seek out the sublime, but rather orient themselves as "visitors in the environmental emplacement." Consequently, as tourists become obsessed with discovering aesthetically pleasing scenery, they distance themselves from an immersion of the cultural and sacred aspects of place. In modern society, the expansion of social media has aided the expansion of aesthetic tourism, as people are constantly looking to hop onto new trends. While hopping onto a new trend is thrilling at first, people ultimately disregard the sanctity and rich culture that they find aesthetically pleasing.