I can definitely see how competition between travel writers
could rise when trying to compose the most outrageous trip. I feel that this type of competition
would be a fun reading selection and perhaps a supply of inspiration for future
travel. However, I don’t feel there is practicality for the average traveler if
he or she wanted to use this as a travel manual.
Friendly competition is bound to happen within any
profession one decides to pursue. I feel that this type of competition is
competition on a grander scale. The entire world is your game board. How
exciting would it be to plan the most outrageous travel plan with nothing off
limit?
I do question if travel is changed if seen as a competition.
Will the experience still resonate as deeply? Or will the fact that the trip
was planned out of pure competition change the underlying meaning of the
journey? I would also question the writer/traveler’s want to venture to the
destination he or she planned for the outrageous trek.
Although, the writer/traveler may very well be 100% committed
to the planned adventure no matter the competition or areas selected. I think
this type of commitment is essential for the success and portrayal of the
outrageous trip.
In my opinion, I feel once you begin traveling for someone
else or for shock value you have jeopardized the true experience of the
adventure. Not only was this
jeopardy impacting you, but this also could affect your general audience. I
feel that reading these type of trips would indeed be entertaining, but ideally
I would like to read a travelogue that I could recreate myself.
I am not completely against the idea of competitive travel.
I do think it pushes other travelers to step outside they boundaries of what
the common travel might look like. As a traveler, you set your own limits,
standards, and expectations. Therefore, if you want to compete with your
buddies or fellow travel writers, just be true to you and your travelogue!
I LOVED your position on competition, especially amongst travelers! I have never thought about how competition can skew the reader’s intention of seeing the writer as sincere. I think when you said, “In my opinion, I feel once you begin traveling for someone else or for shock value you have jeopardized the true experience of the adventure” you were spot on. I completely agree. Once the writer plans out the trip so intricately that the point of the adventure is lost in this immature competition, then you’ve lost the reader completely.
ReplyDeleteBrody, you bring up some great points asking if the whole trip would change if it was based on competition. My opinion on that is, is that it depends on the person who is planning the trip and who is actually taking it. If someone is doing a trip based on just competition and trying to one up someone else it can certainly take away meaning from a trip. They might just want to get it done and quickly write about the trip. They would not even take in the beauty of their trip. Some people on the other hand do take it the trip while competing. It all just depends on the personality of the person I think.
ReplyDeleteBrody,
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you perceived travel and competition because it was different compared to a lot of other blogs. It was difficult for me to decide if I thought competition was necessary if I was a travel writer and I like how you see it as unnecessary. I agree with you that once they are writing about you travels and just trying to succeed in the more crazy adventure then the writer will lose sight of their main purpose for writing in the first place. Overall I liked your viewpoint on why it is not necessary to have competition throughout travel writing.
Brody, the comparison you make between competition being necessary or not is phenomenal. It should not matter whether someone else has gone on the trip before you or went someplace else great. Traveling is about going places that you want to see and doing the things that you love. Competition however does encourage people to explore more and get out of the house when they normally wouldn't
ReplyDelete