Thesis
Exploration of synthetic environments: understanding the 'authentic fake' in Dubai
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2012
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103301
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to define the term and nature of “synthetic” environments in Dubai with regard to authenticity. Such environments tend to borrow off from other ideas, place attachment, and sense of place within or outside the cultural context. Through the medium of a survey, this study takes the literature of authenticity by different authors and samples it against three representative case studies. The first is an example of an absence of authenticity; it can be seen as a synthetic reproduction of mythical images with regard to the cultural context of a place. The second example is that of masking authenticity; it rejects certain parts of history to provide an appealing image during unappealing times. It is a combination of historical references created in a simulated fashion. The third example brings out reflections of authenticity; it is a combination of real historical references without a simulated fashion. Unlike previous literature, in which most studies looked at authenticity through the lens of tourist experiences, this study’s results are intended to bring out the characteristics of authenticity through the responses received from resident groups. Given the limited literature and knowledge about Dubai, this study is particularly important to understand authenticity in Dubai’s complex framework, where the environments are highly synthesized and there is a constant cultural commingling between the global and the local.
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Details
- Title
- Exploration of synthetic environments
- Creators
- Neha Rengarajan
- Contributors
- Nancy H. Blossom (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Design and Construction, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525079901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis