Alena Pirok, PhD Student, University of South Florida
Proposal Type: Roundtable
Seeking: Additional Presenters, Specific Expertise, General Feedback and Interest
Abstract: Considering the popularity of ghost stories in historical tours, and popularity of “dark tourism” as a way of understanding them, and other interpretations, it is now useful to explore the ways in which the ghost tour and the understanding of “dark tourism” intertwine and repel one another
Seeking: Since the recent emergence of “Dark Tourism” as a category for tourist expression and attraction Public historians and tourism scholars have debated its usage, application, and validity. Considering the popularity of ghost stories in historical tourism it is now useful to debate, understand and explore the ways in which the historical ghost tour and “dark tourism” intertwine and repel one another. This panel will collect researchers and practitioners with knowledge and experience with either ghost tourism or lore in historical settings or with the research, application, and understanding of “dark tourism.” These panelists will engage with the audience and o ne another about the practical and theoretical application of ghosts and “dark tourism.”
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Alena Pirok,apirok[at]mail.usf.edu
If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.
All feedback, and offers of assistance, should be submitted by July 3, 2015.
Related Topics: Memory, Museums/Exhibits, Theory
I am very intrigued by this topic of discussion. While in graduate school, I interned at a historic house museum which was on a ghost tour. We were not affiliated with the tour as the guide provided inaccurate information on our house even after various discussions. I enjoy unique and out of the box tours, but they need to based in historical fact and research. Some people are more focused on the ghost aspect to care if their history is correct. That’s unfortunate as many misconceptions are further circulated.
Conversely, I am on the board of the Friends of Eastern Cemetery in Louisville, KY. We worked with a ghost tour guide to provide accurate historic information along with her fanciful ghost stories. She was very receptive to our guidance and thus accurate historic information was passed along to her tourists. It was interesting to see how the goals and agenda of each tour guide affected how they interpreted and used historical data.
Hi Savannah,
I would love to hear more about your experience, feel free to email me at [email protected]
All the best,
Alena
In Philadelphia, the Eastern State Penitentiary both interprets dark history (crime and punishment) and has an incredibly popular Halloween event, so they could explain how they navigate education and entertainment.
You may want to consider including in your proposal a list of specific questions with which the panel proposes to grapple, such as “what is dark tourism”, “why are visitors to historical sites drawn to ghost tourism – how does it complement or challenge standard interpretation”, “what are some best practices for public history professionals obligated or interested in interacting with ghost tour providers”, “can ghost tours provide any insight into patterns of historical memory or the workings of shared authority,” etc.
As a student of Public History, this is my main focus! A professor pointed me toward this feedback section and unfortunately I forgot about it until just today.
I’m working on this as my thesis and while I have nothing but feedback to contribute, maybe I can be of some help. I feel and think very deeply about ghost tourism & history, all of it leading back to the heart of dark tourism in itself, the violent death that has or could have happened at a sight. When dealing with it I think it’s essential that the historians working on the project deal with the ethics of telling the story of death and ghosts at that location.
Macabre history can too easily be turned into a gimmick, cheeky re-enactments, silly Tchotchke souvenirs, and exaggerated tours are all tools to get quick tourism by believers, but one needs to think on how they should really be used. Places of tragedy and violent death need to be handled with care. The truth is important, and without spilling too much into fantasy. I think we owe it to the memory of what is in certain places as history to treat the stories with respect.
If public historians work more within the realm of ghost tours and other dark tourism to help correct exaggerations and misinterpretations I feel like so many would benefit from the intermingling. Public with public.