Exploring the World: How Tourism and Cosmopolitanism Intersect
It’s always been in our nature to be curious about the world around us and, with the
rise of technology, seeing the world is easier than it ever has been. Going to new
places also means exposure to new cultural norms.
WCU guest lecturer Robert Shepherd will elaborate on how tourists and natives interact by discussing his volume Cosmopolitanism and Tourism on Wednesday, March 8, at 12 p.m., via Zoom.
Cosmopolitanism is the belief that all people are entitled to equal respect and consideration, no matter what their citizenship status or other affiliations happen to be. Shepherd, a professor of international affairs and anthropology at George Washington University, will discuss what a “global” consciousness means to people situated in different cultural landscapes and to what extent might these intersect with cosmopolitan values, as well as the ways in which social and economic class, race, educational background, and gender have had cosmopolitan claims. The lecture will also expand on how visiting different places can enrich our understanding of other cultures and the world.
Shepherd is also editor of Critical Asian Studies and a cultural lecturer with the Smithsonian Journeys program. His research centers on heritage, tourism, and development issues, especially in China; the politics of world heritage; and contemporary human rights campaigns.
Michael Di Giovine, WCU professor of anthropology, will moderate the lecture, which is part of the Lexington Books’ Anthropology of Tourism Author Conversation Series.
This webinar is sponsored by the WCU Anthropology Club. To RSVP, contact lextourism@gmail.com.