"Palatial Homes, Now Hovels": The Changing Use Values and Soft Theming of Georgian Dublin

This research provides a visual analysis of Georgian Dublin, the small space within the city centre, as a case study into theming. Drawing on Marx’s Grundrisse (1986) (1987) to create a theoretical framework which expands on the work of Mark Gottdiener (2001), it brings in and unpacks the concept of authenticity and its relationship to theming. In addition to these theoretical considerations it structures an analysis of the origins of the signs and symbols of the space rooted in the historical experience of the city. A combination of researcher generated images and images from the Irish Press, primary source historical documents and online discussions are employed. In establishing that what occurs in the case of Georgian Dublin is soft-theming, which is interpreted through the ideological process of interpellation, this thesis is able to argue that interest and not in-depth knowledge are needed for a visitor to engage with a space in a way that they ascribe meanings to it. Due to this process of interpellation multiple narratives can be linked to a single building. In doing so I argue that soft-theming is a powerful interpretative tool that allows us to move past linear narratives of the development of themed spaces and incorporate other social processes. In producing this case study it was found that Georgian Dublin is a highly symbolic environment, with multiple narratives and exclusions embedded into its built environment.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

National University of Ireland Maynooth

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Lowe, Christopher

Language dc:language

en