'The show must go on': Event dramaturgy as consolidation of community

Ziakas, V and Costa, CA (2012) 'The show must go on': Event dramaturgy as consolidation of community Journal of Policy Research in Tourism Leisure and Events, 4 (1). pp. 28-47. ISSN 1940-7963, 1940-7971

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Abstract

Event dramaturgy and cultural performance have not been examined in the literature from a strategic standpoint of fostering the social value of events. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the case of the Water Carnival, a celebratory event in a rural community of Southwest Texas, demonstrating the essence of this event as a symbolic social space, wherein event participants instantiate a shared and valued sense of community. A hermeneutical approach was employed, interpreting the event and its symbolisms as a text, combined with findings from ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation, in-depth interviews and analysis of archival documents. The study examines the ways that dramaturgy in the Water Carnival helps frame the ongoing public discourse for community improvement and enhances social capital. The implications of the study for social leverage of events are discussed. It is suggested that a foundation for strategic social planning is the understanding of events as symbolic social spaces and their embeddedness in community development, which can be accomplished when events are pertinent to public discourse, address community issues, represent an inclusive range of stakeholders, and promote cooperation. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, 3504 Commercial Services, 3506 Marketing, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Management
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2025 10:00
Last Modified:	22 May 2026 15:55
DOI:	10.1080/19407963.2011.573392
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3189980
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