Lost in the Frame Photography, Tourism, and the Rise of Hyperreal Iconography

This dissertation explores the relationship between tourism, photography, and iconography, focusing on how images shape tourist experiences as well as destinations. At the core of this study is the concept of hyperreal iconography, which examines how this specific type of photography constructs an idealized vision of destinations, often making them feel more real in images than in direct experience. This framework is applied through a case study of Cobh, Ireland, a location whose visual identity has been profoundly shaped by social media imagery. By analyzing historical and contemporary tourism practices, this research traces how photography has evolved from a tool of documentation to a mechanism of expectation and meaning-making. The study identifies key paradoxes of hyperreal iconography, revealing how the pursuit of authenticity often leads to the reproduction of idealized and staged imagery and highlighting the unintended consequences of this phenomenon, such as the transformation of once-hidden locations into mass tourism hotspots and the shift in tourist behavior toward image-driven experiences. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this dissertation situates hyperreal iconography within broader discussions of media representation, digital culture, and the commodification of place. Findings demonstrate that photography not only influences how destinations are perceived but also dictates how they are consumed, reinforcing cycles of visual repetition that shape tourism trends. The case study of Cobh illustrates how a location’s photographic identity can become central to its touristic appeal, affecting both visitors’ experiences and the local community’s engagement with place. By critically examining the mechanisms behind tourism iconography, this dissertation offers insights into how digital photography constructs, amplifies, and sometimes distorts the relationship between travelers and the places they visit.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication

Grantor

Texas A&M University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Avnaim Hamou Regev, Yael 1988-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Crick, Nathan

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Villanueva, George Allen
• Crider, Jason
• Mercieca, Jennifer

• Mass Communications

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/1598172

OAI record oai:identifier

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Aoaktrust.library.tamu.edu%3A1969.1%2F1598172