Tag: McGowen

Robbie McGowen

Film Industry as Tourism

In part one of this project, I will examine Hollywood tourism which is traditionally defined as the iconic filming locations associated with films and television shows we all know and love. The tourism industry in Hollywood also includes but is not limited to destinations such as Comic-Con, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and film studio tours. I will examine the sizable role nerd culture has played in the rise of conventions both domestically and abroad. I will also examine the moral and ethical issues regarding Hollywood cemeteries, tours to celebrities’ houses, and other similar issues.

In part two, I will examine the film industry as tourism. Film and television productions do not film often in Los Angeles like in the old days. The most common places are Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, as well as Atlanta, Georgia, and many summer blockbusters film in places like England, Australia, and Bulgaria for tax credits. In addition to these perks, a production brings in hundreds, if not thousands of cast and crew members to these local destinations. These crew members build sets, support and pay local business, and hire locals as crew members and sometimes even as extras. Many of these sets have gone on to become tourist destinations like the Hobbit houses in New Zealand, the sand huts in Tunisia from Star Wars: A New Hope, and many more. A town like Bozeman, Montana gets a lot of Star Trek related tourism because of its association with the iconic show and likewise the show Yellowstone. I will examine the potential economic impacts to these cities, specifically smaller places such as Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. I will also explore the ethical, moral, and political impacts to the film industry regrading places like China and Saudi Arabia. This is an industry that generates between $88 and $100B globally.
In part three, I will examine sports entertainment events like the Super Bowl, and WWE WrestleMania. These are global events that are both sports, but are presented and produced like any other Hollywood production. These events also bring in people from all over the world who contribute to the local economy, as well as the athletes and crew involved being tourists themselves.

BUS 507 – Entrepreneurship

Dr. Pete Diffenderfer

11am – P003

Robbie McGowen

Twice in a Lifetime

Studying abroad is generally something students do once in a lifetime, but in this case it was twice in a lifetime. After having already been to the host country and city before I did not think there were going to be that many challenges because of familiarity; however, I could not have been more wrong. Over the course of this presentation, I will discuss those challenges, my time at the American University of Rome (i.e., the students and environment), a sample of basic Italian, the benefits of blending into your host culture, being abroad alone vs. a faculty led trip, and some random fun adventures and stories. Lastly, I will share about places I visited after Rome and life lessons I learned during the trip as a whole.

GLST 295, Study Abroad

Lauren Riley

P114

2 – 2:30 PM

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Robbie McGowen

Auschwitz and The Colosseum

When you arrive in the southern hills of Krakow, Poland, one of the first things you notice is that you are surrounded by a beautiful countryside. The trees and natural wildlife go on with their natural duties seemingly unaware of the atrocities that plagued this countryside during The Holocaust. Literary works and films about the Holocaust are not immune from the atrocities that occured. Movies like Schindler’s List and Life is Beautiful are well known, awarding winning pieces of art that tell the stories of particular individuals in a way that evokes emotion in ways other films don’t because that are not afraid to shy away from the horrors and push our boundaries of uncomfortableness. The same can be said by the works of Primo Levi and Elie Weisel–both of whom are Holocaust survivors.

Auschwitz is immune to becoming a tourist attraction because of all the human life that was lost, and the way it was carried out on a mass scale. However, the Colosseum is one of the most visited monuments in the world and yet thousands of people and animals have been slain during its active years. Why isn’t this talked about more? The Colosseum has had quite an impact on pop culture. I will explore the differences between these two ideas and similarities, if any. Is the reason why the Colosseum’s dark past not talked about as much is because of how ancient it is, fewer documented accounts, or was it simply because it was a cultural norm in Ancient Rome? I will dive into and explore these questions in detail, as well as bringing in my personal experiences for visiting both places and how those tours are framed.

ENG 499, Capstone

James Watson

P103

1 – 1:30 PM

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