Travel writing is done with some many things in mind. We travel for various reason and there for we write for just as many. The two types of traveling I have noticed throughout this class is, people travel for information or they travel for pleasure. When traveling for pleasure they are doing so to invoke some kind of emotion. On the other hand, traveling for information is a way to drowned ourselves in another culture.
We see this type of emotional travel when looking at Pico
Iyer. His piece, “Why We Travel” shows
his reflection during his traveling experiences. He talks frequently about how travel changes
who he is, and why he chooses to travel.
Iyer states, ‘The first great joy of
traveling is simply the luxury of leaving all my beliefs and certainties at
home” Iyer does a wonderful job of bringing a sense of fantasy to
his readers through his writings. He draws
his readers in to his writings by allowing them to feel as if they are on the
journey with him.
Unlike the frivolous
fantasies that Iyer creates for his readers, Henry Shukman does the exact
opposite. Shukman is driven by facts and
is a much more formal writer than Iyer.
Iyer’s writings are filled with emotions where as Shukman’s are
emotionless. Henry Shukman’s rattles off
information about events that took place in Chernobly as if he were a scientific
statistician. Each piece of his work is written to provide
his readers with the most scientific information that is often reported in a
matter of fact manner. Shukman writes
down his experience as they happen, moment by moment. Shukman writes, “Ivan the son is busy wiping down the table,
spreading out sheets of newspaper for all the foodstuffs: eggs from chickens
pecking under our feet, tomatoes from the garden, bread, a bowl of tiny forest
raspberries, a whole dried river fish, crystallized and orange from its time
smoking in a homemade stove.” Although
he is noted as being a very factual writer, Shukman also takes note of his
observations of people, places and events that happen around him. He does so in a manner that allows the reader
to fill his shoes and to make their own judgments.
Though these writers seem to be on the opposite
end of the spectrum, they have a lot in common.
Shukman writes of bloodshed in Chernobly, fact by fact by fact, yet
allows readers to discover their own feelings.
Iyer, on the other hand, gives his reader a majestic travel that allows
them to be filled with the mushy-gushy feelings he feels during his trip. Overall, though these writers do differ their types of writings are needed in the
travel writing genre.
Jess,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I like how you think. It never crossed my mind that people travel for information but now it is clear as day. It is interesting that Shukman is able to write in a way that allows a reader to form their own opinions before passing judgement, whereas Iyer, like you said, creates a mystical fantasy read. I personally relate more with Iyer because I feel as if he motivates me to get out and see the world while leaving everything I know behind, and simply because I like his style of writing. Lastly, I think the point you made about both of these writers are needed in the travel writing genre because every writing genre has a variety of ways to portray ultimately the same message and by having differences then the genre can reach more people.
Jess,
ReplyDeleteI think that after reading your blog I am better able to categorize the writers that we have read. I think that if personality can shine through a piece of writing then perhaps we know who Shukman, Iyer or any of the other writers are as people. Perhaps Shukman is scientic, analytical and factual and we can also infer that Iyer is quite the opposite, an emotional, passionate and idealistic person. In the same vein, I think we could also assume that they travel much the same way as their personalities would suggest. Your examples were spot on for this post!
Jess, I always looked at it as people could travel for information and pleasure at the same time. I thought people could travel for pleasure while also immersing themselves in a culture and learning so much about that culture. After reading this blog I can further see the differences in the two travels. I like how you said if we travel for pleasure we try to invoke some sort of emotion. I never really thought of it that way.
ReplyDeleteJess,
ReplyDeleteI liked the two different authors you choose because I think they represent the two different sides very well. I agree that Iyer is more focused on the love of traveling and finding yourself. On the other hand the other author is focused more on learning the city and gaining more information about this certain place. I think some people tend to have both of these traits. For example, Steves travels to help others and to gain knowledge as well. I really like the two examples you gave in this journal.
Jessica, Great job using examples from class in order to get your point across. I personally believe more people travel for the purpose of leisure, but it is those that travel for knowledge that bring about the great discoveries that our world has come to know. Hopefully, we can make in more discoveries and learn more about our past and where we are going.
ReplyDelete