University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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

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
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
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2022 Liselle Milazzo

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