From the Picturesque to the Politicized: Franco-American relations and the reconstruction of Normandy’s tourist gaze post-WWII
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2018-08-31
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en
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This thesis analyzes the influence of Franco-American Relations on the reconstruction of Normandy’s tourist gaze post-WWII to present, demonstrating how international relations can affect tourism narratives in a particular country or region. In the case of Normandy, the development of the supposed “Myth of Liberation” and Americanization of the tourism narrative are examined by analyzing and travel literature from both before and after the war, tour offerings, accounts in popular media such as LIFE, The New York Times, and Rapports France-États-Unis, as well as commemoration speeches by heads of state from 1978-present. Upon examination, it becomes clear that although the United States made major contributions to France’s tourism sector through Marshall Plan aid, undeniably influencing the physical and emotional reconstruction of Normandy, this process was not a unilateral or imperialistic in nature. France willingly accepted and promoted the Myth of Liberation as a means to cope with their physical and emotional trauma from the war and used tourism as a way to show their resilient nature and cultural assets, offsetting perceived weakness and victimization.
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Faculteit der Letteren