Earticle

Performing at Walt Disney World as often as six times a day, seven days a week, the kumidaiko group, Matsuriza, has the unique opportunity to expose thousands of people per day to the world of Japanese taiko performance. At the same time, the group serves as a form of ambassador for Japan, representing the country within a section of the Epcot theme park known as World Showcase. Their performance space is the Japan pavilion, part of a modern day World’s Fair that seeks to introduce tourists to various cultures from around the world. Matsuriza’s participation in Disney’s World’s Fair is not without its consequences, however. The group must grapple with issues of commoditization, authenticity, and representation that have long caught the eyes of scholars. At the same time, the group must deal with the expectations of tourists that have come to Epcot, expectations that are fueled in part by the atmosphere of the Japan pavilion created by the Walt Disney Company. In the end, kumidaiko at Walt Disney World as performed by Matsuriza is a reified art form, static and unchanging. Taiko is discussed by group members using a discourse that adheres to the sense of Japan created within the pavilion, and repertoire and performance practice are modified so as to not disrupt the atmosphere that has been created. Even as kumidaiko continues to grow and evolve outside of Epcot’s borders, within the theme park it is simply another exhibit on display for the paying tourist in the museum of culture that is World Showcase.

본 연구는 강원도 태백시의 대표적인 지역축제 사업인 ‘태백산 눈축제’를 중심으로 지역축제 사업의 활성화 방안에 대해 논의하고자 한다. 본 사례를 통해 지역축제가 성공적으로 활성화되기 위해서는 일관된 주제의식 하에 다양한 콘텐츠 확보, 안정된 조직운영, 인프라 확충, 지속적인 홍보활동, 관광객의 만족도 평가를 통한 사후관리가 지속되어야 함이 밝혀졌다. 본 연구의 시사점을 토대로 지방자치단체가 지역축제 활성화에 대한 성공요인을 어떻게 인식하고 관리하는가에 따라 지역경제 활성화에 미래지향적으로 기여할 것으로 판단된다.

The purpose of this study is to find the way to vitalize local festivals of Taebeak city through examining the Mt. Taebaek Snow Festival case. Especially, this study attempts to analyze the Taebaek festival case with reviewing relevant literatures regarding local festivals. Based on the findings, this study has proposed critical success factors to vitalize local festivals such as a variety of contents with consistent theme, a stable organization, sophisticated infrastructure, continued promotions, and feedback management. The findings of this study suggest practical and managerial implications for implementing local festivals and future research.