Backpacking’s Run-In with McDonaldization Theory

https://doi.org/10.22146/rubikon.v4i1.47863

Rizky Amalia(1*)

(1) 
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


Vacation, unconsciously, has been one of the basic needs in human’s life. It provides a break from the usual routine activity which somehow can trap the doer into an autopilot mode; leaving them to encounter a seemingly never ending task. Thus, vacation’s purpose is to experience a different setup that is not usually found in everyday lives. This study focuses on how vacation has been set up in such a way that violates its initial purpose. Using the theory of McDonaldization proposed by George Ritzer, the discussion will flow into breaking down four concepts of the theory to be matched with the premise of backpacking; in which suggests a possibility of deconstructing vacation concept that is familiar in modern setting. However, with the development of era, backpacking slowly transforms into following the concept of McDonaldization in tourism, giving a glimpse on how modernity has touched every aspect of human’s life and making what was once a breakthrough in tourism world a cliché that falls through some anticipated pattern.

 

Keywords: Backpacking, McDonaldization, Vacation


Full Text:

PDF


References

Creswell, John W. Research Design: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Thousand Oakes: Sage Publication, 1994.

Edwards, Russel Lee. Backpacking in the Digital Age: Ethnographic Perspectives from Latin America. University of Central Florida, 2013

Gapyear. http://www.gapyear.com/

Green Tortoise Adventure Travel – Hostels. http://www.greentortoise.com/

Nieoczym, Adrian. Globalization, Tourism, and the Commodification of Imagination: An Ethnography of Backpacking. Simon Fraser University, 2003

Ritzer, George. The McDonaldization Thesis: Explorations and Extensions. Sage Publications Ltd, 1998

Vaals, Ferda van. The Future of Backpacking. European Tourism Futures Institute, 2012

Wallstam, Martin. Backpacker Institutionalization: Towards an Experience-Based Typology. Mid-Sweden University, 2011

Wildland Trekking. http://www.wildlandtrekking.com/



DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/rubikon.v4i1.47863

Article Metrics

Abstract views : 1219 | views : 1291

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2019 Rubikon : Journal of Transnational American Studies

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Indexed by:

   Crossref Google Scholar JournalStories Main logo  OAI logo  

View My Stats

ISSN & E-ISSN