Consuming symbolism: marketing D-Day and Normandy

A study of the D-Day landing sites in Normandy reveals how experience engineering is employed to shape visitor interactions, aligning with Holt’s 1995 model of symbolic consumption. The research identifies four key metaphors—Experience, Integration, Play, and Classification—that frame these interactions, demonstrating the widespread and nuanced techniques used by site managers and curators. While the approach effectively captures the staged authenticity at these sites, it also highlights inconsistencies in how stakeholders present historical narratives, prompting further reflection on the implications of such practices.

MacCarthy, M. (2016). Consuming symbolism: marketing D-Day and Normandy. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 12(2), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2016.1174245