300133 Sociology of Travel (30-M4,-M9,-M22,-M31: Vertiefendes Theorieseminar) (S) (WiSe 2019/2020)

Travel has always been integral to social life. As a practice, it is highly desired, valued and often portrayed as – necessary. Travel transcends culture, age, education, lifestyle, class and status and emerges as a universal theme in all of humanity. But has this always been so? Is travel today differently perceived and portrayed than it was a century or several decades ago? Why do people travel, after all? Why does society assign value to traveling experiences? Does travel have any negative sides? And, finally, how do we – as sociologists – make sense of it all?

These are some of the questions we will address in the course Sociology of Travel. In addition, we will talk about, among others, the tourism industry (and mass tourism), the relationship between travel, identity and education, as well as between travel and inequalities, global trends and what globalization means for travel (and the other way round), the role of the internet and media and the ethical side of travel.

Literaturangaben

The course literature, together with the complete syllabus, will be made available at the start of the semester.