No one lives in a pure state of un-self-presentation. The Italian immigrants in Boston's North End no doubt played up their Italianness when this helped business with outsiders. Recently in Chicago the ethnic neighborhoods have been encouraged to erect markers at their entry points; these combine communal affirmation and touristic identification. These do not instantly make the neighborhoods into themed places, but the self-consciousness they provoke and celebrate can lead to the doubled self-presentation of a themed place.
(c) David Kolb, 1 August 2001