Last year, we met Szilvia Weyer in Berlin. She told us then she was working on a thesis about Couchsurfing, and we had an interesting conversation about it
Szilvia has been so kind to share an English summary of the thesis with us yesterday. So I hope Spotted by Locals has the scoop of this interesting thesis in the “international press”!
We did a short written interview, that summarizes her interesting thesis well.
What was the subject of your thesis?
In my thesis – written from an anthropological perspective and based on field-work (including interviews, participative observation, analysing the texts at the CS-website) – I described CS as a contribution to modern ways of travelling reflecting some typical tendencies of the zeitgeist.
Can you explain us in your words what Couchsurfing is?
Couchsurfing (CS) is an online hospitality network. The idea of getting the local point-of-view while on the road is its core. The project Couchsurfing tries to contribute to this ideal by offering shelter at private people`s houses, who are willing to share a bit of their every-day lives with their guests.The system is not based on the principle of reciprocity: it is possible to stay at somebody`s place without being a host and vice versa; and there is no financial interest included. Hosts and guests do it simply out of interest for the cultural exchange expected from the encounters. CS has more than 1 million members worldwide with a rapidly growing membership.
In my thesis, I described CS as:
- an instrument of intensifying the everyday-life
- an instrument of accumulating intercultural capital
- an instrument of social distinction
What were your conclusions?
While studying the literature on tourism research, it became obvious to me that “tourist bashing” is not only a popular sport cultivated by so-called average people (tourists included) but also a very common attitude in the sociological literature. The main argument is that the tourists`quest for authenticity is a project doomed to failure from its very beginning on, however they (the tourists themselves namely) are not even aware of it.
However authenticity is an important aspect of my paper, my aim was not to reinforce or to disprove the hopelessness of the tourists` quest for authenticity. I did not want to distinguish between “real/authentic” and “non-authentic” tourist-experiences; for me it was much more important to stress that the quest itself is always “real” – and as such it needed to be taken seriously.
The attitudes, I find typical for the current zeitgeist and that CS create and reflect at the same time, are:
- Search for the real! Authenticity is assumed as a very important value in times when people tend to get unsure what is actually “real” and what not.
- Make the best of it! Make the best of your everyday-life. Small is beautiful, especially if it is not you own “small life-world” but that of somebody else, who you do not know and who lives far (enough) away from you. Hosts and guestS are connected by the same experience-oriented attitude.
At the end of my thesis I described my field-work as a “journey to Couchsurfingland”, pointing out the parallels between the anthropological and touristic (especially the “post-modern”, reflective touristic) view.
The local point-of view is exactly what anthropologists are looking for, whatever issue they thematize – similar to the growing group of tourists, who are reluctant to describe themselves as such and who refuse to follow the pieces of advice written in their travel-guides.
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hey, I’m also working on a CS thesis, is there a way to get yours as an additional literature? :)
“…for me it was much more important to stress that the quest itself is always “real” – and as such it needed to be taken seriously.”
I like this line… although I think there is a culture unique to being a tourist, I think the overall goal of travel is the experience that comes with it. Although everyone can agree that certain tourist influxes are annoying, there is something to be said for ANYONE who travels and wants to experience something outside their comfort zone.
This is a well written article. I hope you keep posting because I really enjoyed it!
Hello,
I am thinking about writing a research paper on the concepts of Couchsurfing and tourism for an anthropology course I am taking. My professor had given me the ok for it as long as I can find a decent amount of literature on it. Do you have an recommendations on where to look for good articles about the concept of couchsurfing and homestays for use as references?
I love your idea for a thesis!
Thanks,
Joelle
Congrats on finishing your thesis, Szilvia. Hospitality Exchange (as a general concept) is a fascinating area of study, especially considering it has the power to change the world in such a positive way.
We recently launched a similar site called Tripping (www.tripping.com) and we’d be happy to talk with any students who are interested in studying this type of social network.
Best of luck and thanks for the interesting posting, SpottedbyLocals!
Jen
[...] Thesis on Couchsurfing [...]
Hi there, Am Gita from Bali. I was doing on theis project I took an Tourism Major at Udayana University in Bali, But the case Am still confused for the title of my thesis, I have just wish to published everyone in Indonesia for becoming a member in Couchsurfing, but I dont know either anybody who comes from indonesia already had done the thesis about Couchsurfing or not yet. if there’s none, am so lucky because am the only one who comes from indonesian wish to finish my thesis asap, can you suggest me about an intresting title or topic?
Regards
Gita Pravita
6281288001700
Hi there, Am Gita from Bali. I was doing on theis project I took an Tourism Major at Udayana University in Bali, But the case Am still confused for the title of my thesis, I have just wish to published everyone in Indonesia for becoming a member in Couchsurfing, but I dont know either anybody who comes from indonesia already had done the thesis about Couchsurfing or not yet. if there’s none, am so lucky because am the only one who comes from indonesian wish to finish my thesis asap, can you suggest me about an intresting title or topic?
Regards
Gita Pravita
gps111826@hotmail.com
6281288001700