TikTok bloggers have caused outrage by recreating the popular game Temple Run at the ancient temple of Angkor Wat. This action sparked debate about cultural preservation and the impact of social media on tourism.
Scandal at Angkor Wat
Incident with bloggers
Recently, a scandal erupted on social networks around the ancient Cambodian temple of Angkor Wat. A group of tourists decided to recreate scenes from the popular mobile game Temple Run by running through the grounds of the 900-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Public reaction
Videos posted on TikTok have sparked a strong reaction among historians and cultural heritage advocates. Many experts called such actions a “catastrophe” for the historical site.
Simon Worrack, a conservation consultant, in an interview with Bloomberg emphasized: “The problem is not just the potential physical damage from -for jumping on ancient stones. The main thing is the damage caused to the spiritual and cultural value of the temples."
Recurring problem
It is worth noting that this is not the first time bloggers have disrespected Angkor monuments. Earlier this year, authorities already expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of YouTubers who abused local monkeys to create content.
University of Oregon archeology professor Alison Carter told Business Insider, "It's important to remember that Angkor Wat and other temples are not just tourist attractions, but living cultural heritage of Cambodians, the rules of behavior here should be the same as in a church or mosque."
Conflicting opinions
However, not everyone shares a negative attitude towards what happened. Some Cambodians on social media have defended the bloggers, arguing that such TikTok trends could draw attention to the local tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Official position
At the time of publication of the material, the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia and the National ASPARA Authority, which is responsible for the preservation of the archaeological complex, did not provide official comments on this incident.
Cultural significance of Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is famous not only as a historical monument, but also as a film location "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" 2001. Moreover, elements reminiscent of temple ruins were used in the design of the Temple Run game itself. The Angkor complex, which includes more than 100 temples, is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Before the pandemic, 6.6 million tourists visited it annually. This year the number of visitors amounted to 630 thousand people.
Glossary
- Angkor Wat is the largest temple complex in the world, located in Cambodia
- Temple Run is a popular mobile game in the endless runner genre
- UNESCO is the UN specialized agency for education, science and culture
- TikTok - a social network for creating and viewing short videos
- COVID-19 - an infectious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV- 2
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Answers to questions
What caused outrage among historians and cultural heritage defenders in Angkor Wat?
What arguments do opponents of such actions in Angkor Wat give?
How did some Cambodians react to the TikTok video situation?
What is the significance of Angkor Wat for world cultural heritage?
How has the number of visitors to Angkor Wat changed since the pandemic?
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Discussion of the topic – TikTok bloggers desecrated the Angkor Wat temple to recreate the game Temple Run
Tourist bloggers from TikTok staged a scandalous filming in the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, imitating the popular mobile game Temple Run. Their actions sparked public outrage and jeopardized the site's UNESCO World Heritage status.
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Isabella
What a horror! How can one treat historical heritage this way? 😱 These bloggers have gone completely crazy chasing likes.
Hans
Isabella, I agree, this is too much. But on the other hand, maybe this will attract more attention to Angkor Wat? 🤔 Tourism there clearly needs a boost after the pandemic.
Pierre
Guys, did you know that Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world? 🏯 I was there a couple of years ago, impressive!
Sofia
Pierre, really? Wow! What do you remember most? I dream of going there, but now I’m afraid that crowds of TikTokers will fly there 😅
Gunter
Ugh! Again these bloggers with their stupid antics. No respect for history and culture. In my time there was no such outrage. Ban them from entering the country, and that's the end of it!
Aleksandra
Gunter, don't be so harsh! 😊 Maybe this will really help attract young people to history? The main thing is that the authorities establish clear rules of behavior on the territory of the temple.
Carlos
I think this is a great idea! 🏃♂️ I would love to play a real Temple Run in Angkor Wat. You just need to do it in an organized manner and without harm to the monument.
Isabella
Carlos, it’s true! Maybe we should create a special AR game for tourists? It would be safe for the temple and fun for visitors. Does anyone know if there are already such projects? 🤳🏼