The Road More Traveled

Faculty supervisor: Graham Cook

Literature Review

Travel writing began as western explorers documented their adventures through the lenses of colonialism, orientalism, and ‘othering’ different cultures that they interacted with; in our current modernized world this still occurs however digital psychology and new social norms introduce transformation into the field. The trails of travel have been worn down with popularity and saturated writing markets as compared to a century ago there is essentially now no new exploration to occur. The dynamic and objective nature of travel writing is further complicated as the digital environment shifts writer-reader relationships, whom is considered a writer, and the authenticity of a journalistic approach. Preliminary research into what is affecting the current state of travel writing is done through numerous qualitative interviews with popular and influential infield writers. Research today is limited although recent studies are proving to be useful and indicative of future research. Travel writing is currently either on the way out or under a drastic paradigm shift. It is noted that there are two main changes in travel writing and they are (1) increased audience interaction and (2) technological innovation (Hanusch, 2012). This literature review will look at three different aspect of how the social media era has affected travel journalism and are divided into: (1) power shift and new modes, (2) user generated content, and (3) the online environment and lived experience.

Power Shift and New Modes

The evolution of travel writing has changed dramatically with the digital age. ‘New modes’  means new approaches to communication mechanisms and different channels such as social media platforms. A power shift with new modes of writing such as laptops and smart phones and a plethora of platforms to write on have made this small niche of writing a large and often sought-after venture. Laquinto’s study on Internet use over travel books, such as lonely planet, found there is interchangeability between print and online content (2012). He also noted that Internet writers are not subject same rules anymore, there is a lack of editors and publishers and an increase in self publication and self monitoring and influencers are also influenced by followers and sometimes dictated by social norms of the internet (Laquinto, 2012). Shorter word counts and a decrease over the years of large writing pieces (Jaimeson, 2012). Indeed, the digital movement is causing a shorter attention span, and shorter stories.

Globalization and the growth of social and participatory media world as noted by Good (2012) create worldwide content and a vast range of readership that was not available a couple decades ago. She asserts that there is a possible paradigm shift in who is a writer. Bloggers becoming professionals and professionals becoming bloggers is the new norm. Interchange occurs as the search for the current, the original and the unfamiliar that usually drives travel writers to develop a niche ends up with the vast majority fitting into an already popularized one as that is where the readership is.

User Generated Content

Mass-media is creating a world that is interconnected and reality based yet in that world perception and ideals are based off each other and made by each other. Self presentation in this digital world is a creation and journalists are losing control because of the common place of mass media. Anyone these days can be Instagram famous, a popular blogger, or a YouTube star. Inauthenticity is seemingly commonplace. Self discovery through adventure and travel is a popular romanticized notion that many western cultures partake in. Challenging and often traumatising experiences happen in these travels (McWha, Frost & Laing, 2018). Personal growth and a trend of taking a gap year to find one’s self are a common theme in travel writing (McWha, Frost & Laing, 2018). Projection of different selves is another theme. Pirolli stated that there are three selves in travel writing: The Discoverable self, the Transformable self, and the Constructed self (2017).

Amateurs vs professional writers are often hard to differentiate within travel writing as a genre. Hanusch (2012) and Pirolli (2013) studied the perceptions of travel writers and found a culture change and that competition and transition between amateur and professional because of online popularity. This was seconded by Good who also noted a loss of authenticity and value in writing (2013). Because of the nature of the internet there is credibility where there is no editor and no publication, and this leads to distrust in amateur travel writing. As more people are travelling and contributing to the online slew of travel writing the transition from amateur to professional because on online popularity is frequent and has increased competition (Good, 2017).

Online environment and Lived Experience

The Online environment and the lived experience is all about connectivity. There are three main points pointed out by Blaer et al.  and they are interaction modes, personal branding, and power modes (2020). Introduction of an Interaction mode to travel writing such as comments, likes, and followers allows for direct influence from readers and content driven posts rather then experience driven. “National geographic” lookalikes and classic photo framing such as a shot of one’s feet from a blanket and a mountain view in the background (#blessed) are frequent. Currently there is a large representation of personal branding and new personas or an enhancement of an online persona among travel writers (Hanusch, 2012). Power modes with a shift towards ‘Me Inc.’ where opinion pieces, points of view and freelance now dominate.

Good with her piece Why We Travel wrote on widespread social media and global access resulting in an “overrepresented world” and an “image saturated society.” Persistence of neocolonial cultural themes in travel photography continue to show up through untrained and amateur writing (2012). She also notes on the staged experience that is incorporated into most travel writing. Again, this misrepresentation leading to inauthenticity appears to be a fear in modern travel writing.

Conclusion: The definition of who is a travel writer is currently under examination and a highly saturated environment is being shaped by social media culture. Perhaps everyone is a travel writer these days. Promising ideas for new research pertaining toself-presentation within travel writing and the effects of the internet on travel writing would benefit further understanding of this topic. As with many topics surrounding the internet and social media long term studies are unavailable.

Works Cited

Blaer, M., Frost, W., & Laing, J. (2020). The future of travel writing: Interactivity, personal branding and power. Tourism Management, 77, 104009. doi: 10.1016/j.tourman.2019.104009

Duffy, A. (2016). “Wherever I Go, There You Are.” Journalism Studies, 19(6), 863–880. doi: 10.1080/1461670x.2016.1238317

Good, K. D. (2013). Why we travel: picturing global mobility in user-generated travel journalism. Media, Culture & Society, 35(3), 295–313. doi: 10.1177/0163443712468608

Hanusch, F. (2012). Broadening The Focus. Journalism Practice, 6(1), 2–11. doi: 10.1080/17512786.2011.622895

Iaquinto, B. L. (2012). Backpacking in the Internet Age: Contextualizing the Use of Lonely Planet Guidebooks. Tourism Recreation Research, 37(2), 145–155. doi: 10.1080/02508281.2012.11081699

Pirolli, B. (2018). Travel journalists and professional ideology. Travel Journalism, 31–44. doi: 10.4324/9781315110738-3