Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
This article analyses the relationship between island and city in the configuration of an insular identity. The hypothesis addresses the special visibility that, in the case of small islands, results from the confrontation between two relevant singularities – the city and the island – in the symboli...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Island Studies Journal
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Island Studies Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-9-2-Picornell.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818910328337989632 |
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| author | Mercè Picornell |
| author_facet | Mercè Picornell |
| author_sort | Mercè Picornell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article analyses the relationship between island and city in the configuration of an insular identity. The hypothesis addresses the special visibility that, in the case of small islands, results from the confrontation between two relevant singularities – the city and the island – in the symbolic conceptualization of territory. The opposition between island contexts and urban spaces is thus considered in terms of the local/global and rural/urban binaries. These are analysed in contemporary cultural representations of the relationship between the island of Mallorca and its historical and administrative capital, Palma. Since the 1960s, Mallorca has become a mass tourism destination with a considerable demographic impact, especially in the capital, which is the island’s gateway for both tourism and immigration. This paper considers geographical, literary and media discourses along with particular mass-consumption cultural products to argue that Palma is represented as a predatory ‘monster’ devouring the island’s ‘local’ identity. It is argued that different types of neo-ruralism have emerged and reinforced the opposition between the island and the city. This opposition underlies a process of counter-acculturation that delineates and strengthens Mallorcan self-representation in a context defined by an increasingly diverse population as a result of tourism and migratory flows. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:41:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a40ea594e1f4c5a8041b811a953180c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1715-2593 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:41:03Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | Island Studies Journal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Island Studies Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a40ea594e1f4c5a8041b811a953180c2022-12-21T20:03:04ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932014-11-0192239258Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)Mercè Picornell0Universitat de les Illes BalearsThis article analyses the relationship between island and city in the configuration of an insular identity. The hypothesis addresses the special visibility that, in the case of small islands, results from the confrontation between two relevant singularities – the city and the island – in the symbolic conceptualization of territory. The opposition between island contexts and urban spaces is thus considered in terms of the local/global and rural/urban binaries. These are analysed in contemporary cultural representations of the relationship between the island of Mallorca and its historical and administrative capital, Palma. Since the 1960s, Mallorca has become a mass tourism destination with a considerable demographic impact, especially in the capital, which is the island’s gateway for both tourism and immigration. This paper considers geographical, literary and media discourses along with particular mass-consumption cultural products to argue that Palma is represented as a predatory ‘monster’ devouring the island’s ‘local’ identity. It is argued that different types of neo-ruralism have emerged and reinforced the opposition between the island and the city. This opposition underlies a process of counter-acculturation that delineates and strengthens Mallorcan self-representation in a context defined by an increasingly diverse population as a result of tourism and migratory flows.http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-9-2-Picornell.pdfBalearicscounter-acculturationisland identitylocal/globalglocalizationMallorcaPalmarepresentationsrural/urbanSpain |
| spellingShingle | Mercè Picornell Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) Island Studies Journal Balearics counter-acculturation island identity local/global glocalization Mallorca Palma representations rural/urban Spain |
| title | Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) |
| title_full | Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) |
| title_fullStr | Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) |
| title_short | Insular identity and urban contexts: representations of the local in the construction of an image of Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) |
| title_sort | insular identity and urban contexts representations of the local in the construction of an image of palma mallorca balearic islands |
| topic | Balearics counter-acculturation island identity local/global glocalization Mallorca Palma representations rural/urban Spain |
| url | http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-9-2-Picornell.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mercepicornell insularidentityandurbancontextsrepresentationsofthelocalintheconstructionofanimageofpalmamallorcabalearicislands |