Rethinking activism: tourism, mobilities and emotion

de Jong, A. (2017) Rethinking activism: tourism, mobilities and emotion. Social and Cultural Geography, 18(6), pp. 851-868. (doi: 10.1080/14649365.2016.1239754)

Abstract

This article seeks to trouble distinctions between activism and tourism, and activism and regionality. It does this by exploring the role of tourism, mobilities and emotion for a regional Australian queer collective, and their 1400 km return journey to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. In illustrating the ways this touristic journey represents alternative ways of performing queer activism, I argue that the existence of regional activism deconstructs notions that non-normative sexualities and queer politics do not exist beyond urban centres. Granting attention to the alternative ways the queer collective utilises tourism mobilities as part of their activism strengthens characterisations of leisure as always more than a space of hedonism and escape. Understanding the broader significance of events enables scholars to rethink festivals as spatially and temporally bounded, one off events but rather crucial to the ongoing sustainability of regional queer collectives and performances of queer activism in peripheral areas.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: de Jong, Dr Anna
• Authors: de Jong, A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Social and Cultural Geography
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1464-9365
• ISSN (Online): 1470-1197
• Published Online: 03 October 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Informa UK Limited, tradings as Taylor and Francis Group
• First Published: First published in Social and Cultural Geography 18(6): 851-868
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy