Professor Wagi Payan Discusses the Intersection of Indigenous Culture, Sustainable Tourism, and the Approach of Atmosphere
Date :
2023-12-07
Department :
International Master's Program in International Communication Studies
【Article by IMICS】
Professor Wagi Payan from National National Dong Hua University gave a talk on “The ‘Atmospheric’ Indigenous Villages: the Exploration of ‘Atmosphere’ in Tourism Places and Tourists' Embodied Experiences” at the International Master’s Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) program on November 29, 2023.
Professor Wagi Payan was invited by Professor Sumei Wang to give a talk in the Urban Media Studies class. She addressed the interrelations of embodied feelings, atmosphere, and the tourist gaze. Her research showed how different media representations could shape the discourse and public understanding of indigenous culture. She also highlighted that tourism and economic benefits may not be the prime concern for the villagers.
Urban Media Studies is a course offered by the IMICS program, at the College of Communication, NCCU. The syllabus combines the sociology of space and media studies. Students participated had active exchanges with Professor Wagi regarding Taiwan’s indigenous culture, and how to conduct ethnographic fieldwork as a reflexive and situated researcher.
Professor Wagi worked with Professor John Urry while doing her PhD at Lancaster University in the UK. Her works focus on tourism and the policies of Taiwan’s indigenous culture. Also, as a Taiwanese indigenous herself, Professor Wagi carries a different understanding and intention of research in this field. With students from different countries, the indigenous culture was introduced as a new lens to interpret Taiwan, and with diverse forms of presenting aids, Professor Wagi invited the students to contemplate upon the topic of atmosphere, how to incorporate the rethinking of ethnographic works and its influence on cultural tourism.
A Gap between the Tourist Gaze and the Indigenous Culture
Professor Wagi explained her observations about the society’s stereotypical misunderstandings of indigenous culture to the students. These impressions towards the indigenous are mostly frameworks shaped by governmental policies. She discussed the students’ feedback on two videos of the Amis Harvest Festival in which the tradition is taken differently. With the exchange of observations, the students were demonstrated with the atmospheric research approach and how the context could be examined in a different way. This concept interconnects with varied fields and is likely to trigger a ripple effect throughout the entire cultural and social landscape.
Atmosphere is a big topic. It plays a significant role in the discussion of indigenous cultural tourism. By introducing the idea of atmosphere and cultural tourism, Professor Wagi presented a magnified web for the students to contemplate. In this interconnected web of governmental policy, tourist economy, media exposure, and social culture, each element resonates with the others, influencing and shaping the overall landscape of sustainable cultural tourism.
Professor Wagi Payan from National National Dong Hua University gave a talk on “The ‘Atmospheric’ Indigenous Villages: the Exploration of ‘Atmosphere’ in Tourism Places and Tourists' Embodied Experiences” at the International Master’s Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) program on November 29, 2023.
Professor Wagi Payan was invited by Professor Sumei Wang to give a talk in the Urban Media Studies class. She addressed the interrelations of embodied feelings, atmosphere, and the tourist gaze. Her research showed how different media representations could shape the discourse and public understanding of indigenous culture. She also highlighted that tourism and economic benefits may not be the prime concern for the villagers.
Urban Media Studies is a course offered by the IMICS program, at the College of Communication, NCCU. The syllabus combines the sociology of space and media studies. Students participated had active exchanges with Professor Wagi regarding Taiwan’s indigenous culture, and how to conduct ethnographic fieldwork as a reflexive and situated researcher.
Professor Wagi worked with Professor John Urry while doing her PhD at Lancaster University in the UK. Her works focus on tourism and the policies of Taiwan’s indigenous culture. Also, as a Taiwanese indigenous herself, Professor Wagi carries a different understanding and intention of research in this field. With students from different countries, the indigenous culture was introduced as a new lens to interpret Taiwan, and with diverse forms of presenting aids, Professor Wagi invited the students to contemplate upon the topic of atmosphere, how to incorporate the rethinking of ethnographic works and its influence on cultural tourism.
A Gap between the Tourist Gaze and the Indigenous Culture
Professor Wagi explained her observations about the society’s stereotypical misunderstandings of indigenous culture to the students. These impressions towards the indigenous are mostly frameworks shaped by governmental policies. She discussed the students’ feedback on two videos of the Amis Harvest Festival in which the tradition is taken differently. With the exchange of observations, the students were demonstrated with the atmospheric research approach and how the context could be examined in a different way. This concept interconnects with varied fields and is likely to trigger a ripple effect throughout the entire cultural and social landscape.
Atmosphere is a big topic. It plays a significant role in the discussion of indigenous cultural tourism. By introducing the idea of atmosphere and cultural tourism, Professor Wagi presented a magnified web for the students to contemplate. In this interconnected web of governmental policy, tourist economy, media exposure, and social culture, each element resonates with the others, influencing and shaping the overall landscape of sustainable cultural tourism.