Liminoidity in modern media tourism experiences: Understanding the uses and gratifications of fans visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Milazzo, Liselle

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117632 Copy

Description

Title

Liminoidity in modern media tourism experiences: Understanding the uses and gratifications of fans visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Author(s)

Milazzo, Liselle

Issue Date

2022-10-06

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Santos, Carla A

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Santos, Carla A

Committee Member(s)

• Shinew, Kim
• Nelson, Michelle
• Johnson, Laurie R

Department of Study

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Harry Potter
• Media Tourism
• Liminoid
• Liminal
• Ritual
• Uses And Gratifications Theory
• Fanship

Language

eng

Abstract

Media tourism is a global phenomenon. Today, one in five tourists engage in media tourism when they travel (Connell, 2012). The phenomenon involves tourists visiting locations inspired by fictional or non-fictional media (including literature, film, and television). Research, including Beeton, 2016; Lovell and Thurgill, 2021; Reichenberger and Smith, 2020; has established that media tourism is a growing area of attention in the travel industry. However, there is an overall lack of research regarding the liminoid (defined broadly as the liminal-adjacent state) nature of media tourism phenomenon (Turner, 1974). To address such a gap in the literature, this dissertation employs the Uses and Gratifications Theory to draw connections from people’s media consumption at home to their media tourism experiences. It does so within the context of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (WWoHP) in Orlando, Florida. Specifically, this dissertation identifies and outlines the relationship between fan-tourists’ uses and gratifications of the Harry Potter series and the qualities of liminoidity fans experience while visiting WWoHP. It then develops a model of liminoidity grounded in the continuously occurring nature of modern, postindustrial societies.

Graduation Semester

2022-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117632

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Liselle Milazzo

Owning Collections