"Turning rebellion into money" – An ethnography on Malaysian punk mobilities and tourism. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mura, Paolo; Yuen, Kok Leong
• Is Part Of: Tourism management. Volume 71(2019)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 233
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Tourism and music -- Punk -- Punk mobilities -- Punk tourism -- Travelling subcultures -- Tourist ear; Tourism -- Periodicals; 338.4791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2018.10.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-5177

Abstract

Abstract: While the nexus between music and tourism has been explored by scholars, little has been written in the tourism literature about the so-called "alternative" forms of music (metal, punk), their related "alternative subcultures", and their potential to propel forms of tourist mobility/consumption. This is particularly true within the context of Asian countries, including Malaysia, in which the underground punk scene is vibrant, yet relatively unexplored. Based on an ethnographic fieldwork conducted among a group of Malaysian punks, this paper explores punk mobilities and their related forms of tourist consumption. Overall, this work leads to three main conclusions. Firstly, physical mobility is crucial to strengthen a sense of communitas among the Malaysian punks. Secondly, punks often engage in forms of tourist consumption, although they prefer not to be labelled as "tourists". Thirdly, punk could become a tourist product as long as a balance between punk values and commercial exploitation is maintained. Highlights: Little is known about the "tourist ear" and tourists' embodied listening practices. This paper explores Malaysian punk mobilities and their related forms of tourist consumption. Punk could become a tourist product as long as a balance between punk values and commercial exploitation is maintained.