Iconic Power, Dark Tourism, and the Spectacle of Suffering

Dark tourism, which encompasses sites associated with violence and trauma, operates on a spectrum from entertainment-focused attractions to solemn memorials. This study examines how such sites balance education, commerce, and reflection, using two case studies: Ai Weiwei's temporary exhibition on Alcatraz and the display of genocidal evidence at S-21 and the Killing Fields in Cambodia. The research highlights the ethical complexities and emotional responses evoked by these locations, ranging from shock and horror to more commercialized forms of engagement. By analyzing the fluid spectrum of intensity in dark tourism, the study underscores its multifaceted nature, combining elements of activism, art, and memorialization.

Carrabine, E. (2017). Iconic Power, Dark Tourism, and the Spectacle of Suffering. The Palgrave Handbook of Prison Tourism, 13–36. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56135-0_2