Traveling by Train in Sicily: A New Era of Comfort and Convenience
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1. TRAVEL JOURNALISM IN THE CONTEXT OF
PHILOSOPHY, HISTORY AND CULTURE: A PORTRAYAL
OF TAMILNADU
IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE (1900 –2000)
JOJAN JOB, M.A.(MC&J)., M.Phil., M.A(Phil), M.Phil
Department of Journalism, SFS, Madras Christian College,
Tambaram, Chennai – 59. PH:9382888921
2. When Ross Pesman reviewed The Cambridge Companion to Travel
Writing, in Australian Book Review, the reviewer wrote,
“Everything travels and travel is a metaphor for
everything, travel and travel writing have become the
subject of intense scholarly interest and debate.
Travel, once largely the domain of geog-raphers, and
travel writing, previously relegated to the status of a
sub-literary genre, now engage attention from literary
studies, history, anthropology, ethnography and, most
fruit-fully, from gender and post-colonial studies”( May
2003:13)
3. The Aim and Purpose of the Study
The aim of the study is to examine the articles on Tamil
Nadu published in National Geographic in the context of
philosophy, history and culture. All the articles were written
in the period of 1900-2000. The researcher will see
whether these articles reflect the Tamil Nadu according to
the period of writing in various levels. The researcher will
also try to find out how the western media like National
Geographic magazine portray Tamil Nadu through the
articles. Even though the world changes many times
western journalism likes to see India as mystic land. The
researcher would like to study the purpose of the magazine
in the context of Orientalism, postmodernism and cultural
studies also.
4. Travel Discourse in National Geographic
Travel writing is a multifaceted process. It is
representing a culture, which reflects on the mind of
the narrator as well as his attitude on the object he
narrates. The attitude is molded by the culture he
was brought up and the culture he has interacted
with all these mirrors on his writings. So from the
academic point of view it is a discourse to be
analyzed because here the big question arises -
Who writes for whom and what perspective he
writes?. In a travel writing the beautiful interplay of
self, place and other is portrayed.
5. National Geographic- A brief history
The National Geographic Society (formed in
January,13,1888), headquarters in
Washington.D.C in the U.S, claims themselves as
one of “the largest non-profit scientific and
educational institutions in the world.” The National
Geographic magazine is currently published in 32
language editions in many countries around the
world with more than fifty million readers’ monthly.
6. Linda Steet (2000: 19)writes:
“Nowhere in the world is there another magazine
exactly like the National Geographic…. Its purpose
is and always has been to promote science and
education, and it educates in the most effective way
by portraying this thrilling world and its life in
clear, vivid, comprehensible manner, stripped of
dull, technical verbiage, and mirrored in many
striking pictures.
7. Gilbert H. Grosvenor, who gave shape to the policies of National Geographic
gave guiding principles for the magazine in 1914. Linda Steet (2000:17-18) in her
work Veils and Daggers summarizes the same:
•“The first principle is absolute accuracy. Nothing must be printed which is not strictly
according to fact. The Magazine can point to many years in which not a single article
has appeared which was not absolutely accurate.
•Abundance of beautiful, instructive, and artistic illustrations.
•Everything printed in The Magazine will be as valuable and permanent value, and so be
planned that each Magazine will be as valuable and pertinent one year or five or ten
years after publication as it is on the day of publication. The result of this principle
is that tens of thousands of back numbers of The Magazine are continually used in
school rooms.
•All personalities and notes of trivial character are avoided.
•Nothing of a partisan or controversial character is printed.
•Only what is of a kindly nature is printed about any country or people, everything
unpleasant or unduly critical being avoided.
The content of each number is planned with a view of being timely. Whenever any
part of the world becomes prominent in public interest, by reason of war,
earthquake, volcanic eruption, etc., the members of the National Geographic Society
have come to know that in the next issue of their information about that region,
presented in an interesting and absolutely non-partisan manner, and accompanied by
photographs which in number and excellence can be equaled by no other
publication”.
8. Presenting the Orient in National Geographic as Other
So the society and the culture of another part of the Globe is
systematically covered and presents in front of the literate
cosmopolitans, urban world of the developed nations as a new
dish from the oriental world. National Geographic do this for
the past hundred years. No doubt, they educate the people. No
doubt, they unveiled the visuals of the east to the popular
mindset of the American and European community. But only
with the hidden agenda of the portrayal of the Asia and Africa as
the mystery. Only with the view that, as Kipling opined, east do
not know how to represent them.
9. Discourse Analyses
To analyze the articles in National Geographic, used the discourse
analyses –Waitt (2006, 64-65) discusses various aspects of discourse
analysis.
“(i) to explore the outcomes of the discourse in terms of actions,
perceptions, or attitudes rather than simply the analysis of statements/
texts;
(ii) to identify the regulatory frameworks within which groups of
statements are produced, circulated and communicated within which
people construct their utterances and thoughts; and
(iii) to uncover the support or internal mechanisms that maintain
certain structures and rules over statements about people, animals,
plants, events, and places in existence as unchallengeable, „normal‟, or
„common-sense‟ rather than to discover the „truth‟ or the „origin‟ of a
statement”. Waitt (2006, 64-65)
10. Orientalism
It was Edward Said (1995:12) who studies seriously on the one idea
which he described in his work Orientalism.
“Orientalism is the discipline by which the Orient was (and is)
approached systematically, as a topic of learning, discovery, and
practice. But in addition I have been using the word to designate that
collection of dreams, images and vocabularies available to anyone who
has tried to talk about what lies east of the dividing line. These two
aspects of Orientalism are not incongruent, since by use of them both
Europe could advance securely and unmetaphorically upon the
Orient.”
11. Aspects of Caption
Catherine A. Lutz and Jane L. Collins (1993:76) study in detail
about the captioning in National Geographic Magazine seriously.
They write
“At National Geographic, captioning pictures is separate from
both writing and photography, and equally important. Because
marketing studies show that 53 percent of subscribers read only
picture captions, not the text, editors see captions as a crucial
opportunity to give these casual readers a fix on the article-to
expose them to its major themes and give them some information
to carry away with them. Thus it has established a separate
department charged with legend writing, which employed then
writers in 1989. Each writer is assigned one article each month to
research and caption.”
12. Articles and captions Published on Tamil Nadu during the Period of 1900 – 2000
Title, Date, Pages Selected Captions of Photographs Selected Quotes from the
Articles
The Madura PORCH OF A THOUSAND
Temples PILLARS, MADURA - Photo: J.S
March 1908 Chandler, Page 220
218-222 GOLDEN LILLY TANK,
MADURA – Photo: J.S Chandler,
Page 221
A Hindu Religious During this ceremony the gods are
Festival anointed with perfumed oils from the
June 1909 lemon, saffron, banana, coconut,
582-583 sugar, raisins; then milk is poured
over, and the devotees eagerly secure
the sacred draught enlighten the
forehead and eyes, and then drink
what remains in their palms, after
which incense and camphor gum are
burned. These vast throngs show
slight regard for caste, and the rule of
seclusion for women is apparently
forgotten. Page 582
13. The Temples of A WONDROUSLY RICH The Temple (Shrine) at
India TEMPLE OF SOUTH Chidambaram and great gopura
November 1909 INDIA, CHIDAMBARAM,
in background. The gopuras, or
922-971 Photo: W.M. Zumbro, Page
pagodas, at Chidambaram are
946
A HINDU ASCETIC OR the oldest in southern India and
HOLY MAN, Photo: W.M. marvels of sculptured
Zumbro, Page 947 ornament. The temple is
A UNIQUE SNSCRIT enormously rich and contains an
LIBRARY: TANJORE, unequaled treasury of jewels
Photo: W.M. Zumbro, Page
and silver cars. Page 959
949
Holy man with an armful of
A GEM OF DECORATIVE
ARCHITECTURE:TANJO peacock feathers and his head in
RE, Photo: W.M. Zumbro, an iron cangue that prevents
Page 950 him from lying down or leaning
back. Page 959
14. CORRIDOR IN THE GREAT TEMPLE
AT RAMASWARAM: THE CORRIDOR IS
In the Palace at Tanjore the
670 FEET LONG: THE PILLARS ARE library is particularly rich in
MONOLITHS: THE TEMPLE HAS AN
ANNUAL INCOME OF $200,000, Photo: Sanscrit manuscripts, some 8,000
W.M. Zumbro, Page 951
of them are like are these wood-
KARUPASWAMY OR GOD
WORSHIPPED BY THE ROBBER bound volumes, consisting of
CASTE, Photo: W.M. Zumbro, Page 952
THE GREAT TOWER OVER THE strips of talipot palm leaves
ENTRANCE TO THE HINDU TEMPLE engraved with a sharp metal
AT SIRI RANGAM, Photo: W.M.
Zumbro, Page 961 stylus. It is the unique Sanscrit
THE ROCK-CUT TEMPLES OF
MAHALIPURA,NEAR MADRAS, Photo:
library of India, collected there in
W.M. Zumbro, Page 962 the sixteenth century. Page 960
The robbers never go out on a
stealing expedition without first
getting consent of their god.
Page 960
15. MORNING BATH AND
TOILET OF THE PIOUS AT
SECUNDERAMALAI, NEAR
MADURA, Photo: W.M. Zumbro,
Page 966
CROWD OF HINDUS AT A
RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL AT
SECUNDERMALAI, NEAR
MADURA, Photo: W.M. Zumbro,
Page 967
ENTRANCE TO THE GREAT
TEMPLE OF MADURA, Photo:
W.M. Zumbro, Page968
16. The Indian A HINDU FESTIVAL – Photo: Thousands of Indians travel
Census of 1911 John J Banningra night in the bullock carts of the
July 1911 All people attending these festivals country, the common mode of
633-638 on the night of the census were travel between the thousands of
counted by special enumerators. villages that have no railway
Page 635 service. The heat of the day
A WANDERING makes the night the pleasantest
MENDICANT- Photo: John J time for travelling, so provision
Banningra had to be made for these also;
Over 4000,000 holy men wander and tollgate keepers, as well as
from temple to temple in India, and the keepers of caravansaries,
special provision had to be made to were appointed as enumerators
count them. Page 637 to count the noses of all passing
through their gates or stopping
at their “pettahs,” or inns. Page
635
17. Religious THE SCARED ROCK AND Four miles from Madura is the
Penances and TEMPLE OF rock of Tirupurankundram (Hill
Punishments Self- TIRUPURANKUNDRAM Photo of the Holy God Puran), sacred
Inflicted by the : W M Zumbro to the god Subramaniam. Here,
Holy Men of India Four miles from Madura is the rock twice a year, thousands of
December 1913 of Tirupurankundram (Hill of the worshipers from all over South
1257-1314 holy god Puran) sacred to the god India gather for a religious
Subramanian. Here, twice a year, festival.
thousands of worshipers from all It is a gay throng that
over South India gather a religious assembles rich in bright colors,
festival… On the top of the rock is fascinating in its varied life and
a Mu hammedan mosque and at the movement – the easy pose of the
foot is the temple of Subramanian. village youth, the quaint charm
Page 1258 of the Indian maiden, the
confused babel of voices. Here is
a little microcosm of the great
India. Page 1257
18. COMMUNING RELIGION AND These great religious assemblies would
BUSINESS – Photo : W M Zumbro never be complete without the religious
These festivals serve the triple purpose of a asectic or Sadhu. Here one sees him in
camp meeting, a country fair and a market full power crowned with glory and
for the Indian devotee combines business honour. Page 1257
with religion in an interesting way. It is a gay The sadhu sitting unmoved by sun or
throng that assembles, rich in bright colours rain regarding not heat or cold, light or
fascinating in its varied life and movement… darkness, the pangs of hunger nor the
Here is a little microcosm of great India. ties of families bathing betimes, his
Page 1258 thoughts turn within his gaze centered
A YOUTHFUL PILGRIM- Photo : W M on the tip of his nose in meditation, is
Zumbro the fitting emblem of the people as he
Sometimes at pilgrimages a little boy is seen is their most cherished ideal. Page 1259
carrying a kavadi (a heavy decorated frame
of wood) in the fulfillment of a vow made
by his parents. Notice the different sect
merks worn by the bystanders on foreheads.
Page 1259
19. CARRYING THE KAVADI-
Photo : W M Zumbro
Carrying a Kavadi around the
scared rock is a favourite penance
in Southern India. The Kavadi a
wooden frame elaborately
decorated with flowers and feathers
is held above the head by one
hand. Note also another form of
penance the iron chain beneath the
chin supported by a pin driven
through the cheeks from side to
side. Page 1278
20. A PENANCE AT TIRUPURANKUNDRAM-
Photo : W M Zumbro
Among the pilgrims will be found many persons
who while not professional ascetics, are vowed to
some art of penance while visiting the sacred rock.
Sometimes it takes the form shown in the picture of
carrying a heavy load on the head while making the
circuit of the rock. Page 1280
Devotees parading through the streets bearing great
earthen pots filled with for at the Mariammal festival,
Palani. Photo: Rev. W. P Edward Page 1287
THE ROLLING PENANCE- Photo : W M
Zumbro
One of the most common forms of penance is that
of rolling the body on the ground, often for very
great distances. The man shown in the picture is
rolling around the sacred rock at Tirupurankundram.
Page 1291
21. The Marriage THE TEMPLE When the gods got married
of the Gods ELEPHANTS – Photo : the people are merry indeed.
December John J Banninga Then hundreds and thousands
1913 On all great occasions in throng to Madura from all the
1314-1330 India, whether religious or villages of South India, for it
social the elephant in his may be expected that the gods
gay trappings plays an will be in good humor on such
important part. Here we an occasion and be willing to
see the elephants of the bestow the blessings so long
great temple at Madura withheld. Page 1314
ready to lead the
procession at the marriage
of the gods. Page 1315
22. THE NORTHERN The whole ceremony seems
GOPURAM AT MADURA– very impressive when judged
Photo : John J Banninga by the seriousness of those
These ornamental pyramids or who perform it, but to the
gopurams; the gateway into the Western onlooker it seems to
great temple at Madura, are belong to the same age as the
covered with life-size stucco map of the universe which is
figures representing all sorts of painted on one of the walls….
gods, goddesses and heroes of In this the earth is represented
Hindu mythology. Page 1323 in the centre of the seven seas
that are supposed to surround
it- seas of water, air, butter,
ghee, honey etc. Page 1315
23. DETAIL OF A GOPURAM Then there is a great shout from
AT MADURA – Photo: Bouror the people, and they drag it along,
and Shajol sometimes only for a few feet, and
This picture shows the then again for a couple hundred
bewildering entanglement of yards. There is no steering gear, so
symbolism found on these wooden wedges are used to put
gopurams where many of the under the wheels. By slipping down
gods of the Hindu pantheon find the greasy surface of these wedges
a place. These curious gateways the car is swung around corners on
are found only in the south of a large circle. Page 1327
India and are characteristic of Many of the poor outcaste people,
Dravidian architecture which who are not allowed in the inner
takes its name from the precincts of the temple, make use
Dravidians, who belong to the of this occasion to see and worship
oldest known race inhabiting the gods. Judging from their
India. Page 1325 believing that they see the god
himself, and that they worship the
image as such. Page 1327
24. ALMS FOR THE ASCETIC –
Photo: John J Banninga
This is a characteristic picture of
Hindu life. The ascetic stands
impassive; his begging-bowl in his
hands, neither asking for nor
refusing the alms of the
faithful, while the school-boy
requires merit by contributing to
the support of the holy man. This
ascetic can be recognized as a
devotee of Vishnu by the beads of
basil wood he wears. Note the
sandals. Page 1328
25. THE MAHAMADKHAM FESTIVAL AT
KUMBAKONAM – Photo: Dr W.E. Gruld
Bathing is intimately connected with the religious life of
the Hindus, every temple has its tank for ceremonial
bathing, ablutions, and lustrations. The sacred waters of
the River Ganges, especially at Benares are popularly
supposed to remove the guilt of sin, and therefore
attract pilgrims from all over India. The water in the
great tank at Kumbakonam, in the Tanjore district of
Madura, is popularly supposed to come from the river
Ganges, by a subterranean passage from miles long,
once every 12 years. The picture shows the great tank
filled with pilgrims waiting for the auspicious moment
to bathe. Page 1312
26. The Cobra, Not in fear but in faith, a The cobra is not the vicious killer
India’s Good woman of Madras makes an imagined by the uniformed. The gentle,
Snake offering of rice and coconut to a handsome Tamil people among whom
September 1970 large and deadly cobra which had we live had named it well: Nulla Pambu-
393-409 been released on a termite the “Good Snake”
mound. Indian devotion to the When I first heard the name, I
snake as a symbol of fertility admit it struck me as odd. From earliest
found earlier expression in a times the snake has been widely reviled:
serpent deity hooded by seven “thou art cursed above all cattle, and
cobras. About ten feet tall, it was above every beast of the field; upon thy
carved in rock at Mahabalipuram belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou
13 centuries ago. Photo: Harry eat,” thunders God to the serpent in
Miller, Page 393 Eden (Genesis 3:14). Among the
Hindus, however, this Biblical curse
would seem heretical. For them the
cobra has deep religious significance,
primarily as a symbol of fertility. Page
394
27. Analyses of Travel Discourse and Captions on
Tamil Nadu in National Geographic
Travel writing is an activity which makes one to go
beyond his own native area by that way, he/she contribute
to the study of culture of presenting ones past of the
world to public in written language.
When we analyse all the seven (7) articles on Tamil
Nadu published during the period 1900-2000, we can see
the that Said‟s study is very relevant. Tamil Nadu advanced
in all the areas of education, science, technology and
transport. But National Geographic likes to portray only
one side of the culture that will create enthusiasm among
the western audience.