Elephants in Norway: Meanings and Authenticity of Souvenirs From a Seller/Crafter Perspective

Abstract

Souvenirs are fascinating little things that both incorporate as well as illustrate the global–local interplay of tourism. They need to be approached in their complexity as they intertwine people, places, and meanings. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of souvenirs from the perspectives of souvenir sellers and crafters. Taking a constructivist approach, we are interested in the ways sellers and crafters construct meaning and authenticity in souvenirs. The work is based on fieldwork including 35 semistructured interviews with souvenir sellers and crafters in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland (both self-ascribed "indigenous" and "nonindigenous" participants). Our findings elaborate on: (1) the sellers' and crafters' conception of the term "souvenir," (2) their considerations in making, choosing, and selling souvenirs, and (3) the ways in which they authenticate souvenirs, in particular through storytelling. We find that the crafters and sellers often had a negative conception of the term "souvenir" and preferred not to call their products souvenirs. However, they were aware as well as appreciated that their products might become souvenirs in the interaction with the tourist. Interviewees further highlight the importance of storytelling for these processes of becoming or authentication, where they also express agency and power over these representations. Furthermore, the findings elucidate their relative entrepreneurial freedom and ways of balancing aesthetic as well as economic concerns. The study calls for further research, in particular on the ways stories authenticate, but also taking into methodological account the complexity of the term souvenir, as well as seeking more comprehensive approaches including varieties of sellers and crafters, using a spectrum from selfdefined indigenous to nonindigenous identities.