Selling EthniCity

The edited volume 'Selling EthniCity' reveals how urban cultural politics in the Americas, from colonial times to contemporary consumer societies, commodify ethnicity for economic and identity purposes. It demonstrates that ethnic heritage is increasingly leveraged as a marketable asset, reshaping urban landscapes while raising questions about authenticity and memory. The study employs comparative case studies—ranging from carnival celebrations in post-Katrina New Orleans to gentrification in U.S. neighborhoods—to analyze how ethnicity is performed, consumed, and contested. Key findings include the tension between heritage preservation (e.g., Quito’s historic center) and commercialization, as well as the role of digital media in re-ethnicizing urban spaces. The research combines ethnographic observation, cultural analysis, and critical discourse studies to expose the complexities of identity politics in globalized cities.

Kaltmeier, O. (Ed.). (2016). Selling EthniCity. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315608310