6533b7d4fe1ef96bd126245f
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Can absence restore authenticity? The case of Strasbourg Christmas Market
Claire RoedererMarc Filsersubject
Activités culturelles et de loisirsExpérience de consommationChristmas marketConsumption experienceCultural and leisure activities[SHS.GESTION] Humanities and Social Sciences/Business administrationAuthenticityAuthenticitéMarché de Noëldescription
The Strasbourg Christmas Market (MNS) was greatly impacted by the pandemic in 2020. This research delves into the role of absence in the consumption experience through fifteen semi-structured interviews with regular MNS attendees and ethnographic observations of the MNS's iconic locations. Our findings indicate that individuals, affected by two lockdowns and the pandemic's social and economic repercussions, are eager to rediscover the city without overbidding. The absence reinforces the imaginative value of the MNS, imparting renewed significance. The authentic heritage of Strasbourg's historic center appears to have been reclaimed and compensates for the void. The Christmas market is presented as a "place/time" that integrates with the city's palimpsest and regains its allure through its nonexistence. We explore these findings in connection with the search for more authentic cultural and recreational activities.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-01 |