The field of contemporary travel writing will be analyzed by taking the three authors Paul Theroux, Bill Bryson and V. S. Naipaul into account. The aim is therefore to illustrate what makes contemporary travel writing special and how it differs from what has been written before. "The Old Patagonian Express", "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe" and "An Area of Darkness" have been chosen in order to carry out this analysis.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Meaning of Contemporary
- The Contemporary Travel Writer
- Contemporary Travel Writers and their Way of Writing
- Paul Theroux
- The Old Patagonian Express
- The Colonial Perception in The Old Patagonian Express
- Bill Bryson
- Cosmopolitanism
- Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe
- The Cosmopolitan Perception in Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe
- Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul
- An Area of Darkness
- The Nostalgic-Historic Perception in An Area of Darkness
- Paul Theroux
- Themes in Contemporary Travel Writing
- The Urge to Report
- The Interest in "The Other"
- The Expansion of Travel Destinations
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This seminar paper explores contemporary travel writing by analyzing the works of three different authors. The objective is to illustrate what makes contemporary travel writing distinct and how it differs from previous travel writing styles. The paper investigates the definition of "contemporary" in travel literature, outlines the characteristics of contemporary travel writers, and examines how their perceptions of visited countries shape their writing styles.
- Defining "contemporary" in travel literature
- Distinguishing contemporary travel writers from tourists
- Analyzing the diverse perceptions of visited countries by contemporary travel writers
- Exploring key themes in contemporary travel writing
- Illustrating the development of different genres within contemporary travel writing.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by defining the term "contemporary" within the context of travel literature. It clarifies the distinctions between contemporary travel writing and earlier forms of travel writing, highlighting the influence of post-World War II societal changes and the accessibility of travel destinations. The paper then delves into the characteristics of the contemporary travel writer, emphasizing their motivations, values, and approaches to exploring different cultures.
The main part of the paper focuses on three contemporary travel writers: Paul Theroux, Bill Bryson, and V.S. Naipaul. Each author's work is analyzed in terms of their perception of the visited country and their writing style. Paul Theroux's "The Old Patagonian Express" exemplifies a colonial perception, while Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe" represents a cosmopolitan perception. V.S. Naipaul's "An Area of Darkness" illustrates a nostalgic-historic perception.
The paper concludes by examining key themes in contemporary travel writing, including the urge to report, the interest in "the other," and the expansion of travel destinations. It explores how these themes contribute to the development of different genres within the field.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Contemporary travel writing, contemporary, travel writer, tourist, colonial perception, cosmopolitan perception, nostalgic-historic perception, Paul Theroux, Bill Bryson, V.S. Naipaul, The Old Patagonian Express, Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe, An Area of Darkness, themes, genres, urge to report, interest in "the other," expansion of travel destinations.
- Quote paper
- Lukas Wieltschnig (Author), 2021, Contemporary Travel Writing. Writers, Genres, and Themes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1270369
