What does it truly mean to travel? Is it merely ticking off destinations on a bucket list, or is there a deeper, more profound significance to our journeys? In a captivating interview, Dr. Emily Thomas, a philosopher and author of “The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad,” delves into these very questions, bridging the seemingly disparate worlds of philosophy and travel. For those pondering the Travel Meaning, Emily offers a rich exploration of otherness, fear, perspective, and the evolving landscape of travel itself.
What is the Meaning of Travel? Embracing the Otherness
For Emily Thomas, the essence of travel meaning lies in the experience of “otherness.” It’s about venturing into places that are entirely new and unfamiliar, challenging our preconceived notions and forcing us to make sense of the world anew. This isn’t just about seeing different landscapes; it’s about immersing ourselves in environments where language, social cues, and even the rhythm of daily life are foreign.
“Traveling is all about experiencing otherness. It’s all about going to places that are new and unfamiliar. And trying to figure out how to make sense of them, how to map them on to the world that you do know.”
Emily recounts her own transformative travel experiences, particularly those where she was thrown into the deep end, navigating places where she understood virtually nothing. It’s in these moments of disorientation and gradual understanding, through reading and engaging with locals, that the true travel meaning emerges. This process of piecing together a new reality, bit by bit, is what makes travel so enriching.
However, does this definition imply that a trip within one’s own country, perhaps even within England for Emily, doesn’t qualify as “travel”? Emily concedes that while unfamiliar experiences can certainly be found closer to home, true immersion in the unknown often necessitates venturing further afield. It’s about pushing beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones and engaging with a level of unfamiliarity that truly challenges our perspectives.
The Sublime in Travel: Finding Pleasure in Terror
Travel isn’t always comfortable or easy. In fact, some of the most memorable travel moments are tinged with a sense of unease or even fear. Emily introduces the concept of the “sublime” in travel, drawing from the 18th-century philosopher Edmund Burke. The sublime, in this context, is not just beauty, but a specific feeling – a “pleasurable terror.”
“When you have a sublime feeling, it’s a kind of pleasurable terror. So it’s the kind of enjoyable fear that you get from standing close to a waterfall, but not too close. You can feel the spray on your face, but you’re not actually afraid of falling over.”
This “pleasurable terror” is the exhilarating fear experienced when confronting something vast and powerful, yet remaining safely on the edge. For Emily, solo travel has often been a catalyst for sublime moments. Arriving alone in a new, overwhelming city can be terrifying yet incredibly exciting. She vividly recalls her first trip to China at 18, stepping out into a bustling city and feeling utterly lost and overwhelmed, yet simultaneously thrilled by the unknown. This sensation of being small in a vast, incomprehensible world contributes to the profound travel meaning.
Forbidden City, Beijing. Photo licensed from BigStockPhoto
Echoing this sentiment, Emily quotes Camus, “what gives value to travel is fear.” It’s not just about the postcard-perfect moments, but also about confronting our anxieties and stepping into the unknown.
Overcoming Fears in Travel: Real and Imagined
While the “pleasurable terror” of the sublime can be a draw, travel also confronts us with genuine fears, both real and imagined. Emily distinguishes between reasonable fears, like concerns about safety in high-crime areas, and more imagined fears, such as the anxiety of getting lost in a new city.
Real fears, like the threat of crime, are undeniably unpleasant and should be taken seriously. However, imagined fears, often rooted in the unknown, can be surprisingly beneficial to confront. The fear of getting lost, for instance, might seem daunting, but the worst-case scenario is often simply asking for directions. Conquering these smaller anxieties builds confidence and enhances the travel meaning.
Emily shares a more extreme example of facing fear during travel – a taxi ride in Zimbabwe where the car caught fire, and the driver nonchalantly refused to stop. While not all fears are pleasurable or easily overcome, this anecdote highlights the unpredictable nature of travel and the need for resilience.
For solo female travelers, fears can be amplified, including concerns about safety and navigating unfamiliar social situations. Even simple tasks like asking for directions to a bathroom in a foreign country can feel daunting. So, how can we overcome these fears to embrace the enriching experiences travel offers?
Emily draws upon Stoic philosophy, suggesting a practical approach to managing fear. Stoicism encourages mentally working through worst-case scenarios. By considering what could realistically go wrong and how we would handle it, we can diminish the power of fear. For Emily, the fear of the unknown is often the most potent. Researching a destination – understanding transportation, local customs, and basic practicalities – significantly reduces anxiety. Knowledge acts as an antidote to fear, much like seeing the monster in a horror movie often diminishes its terror. Preparation and information are key to unlocking the travel meaning without being paralyzed by fear.
The Truth of Travel Writing: Navigating Fiction and Nonfiction
Travel writing plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions of destinations, often inspiring our own journeys. Yet, Emily raises a crucial point: travel books often blur the lines between fiction and nonfiction. While categorized as nonfiction, travel narratives frequently employ literary devices borrowed from fiction, such as metaphor, hyperbole, and plot structure.
“Travel books, even though they are within the nonfiction genre, actually, they are using many, many devices from fiction. They are using metaphor or hyperbole, that kind of thing. Travel books often have a plot…”
These techniques enhance readability and engagement but also infuse the narrative with the author’s subjective perspective. While factual details like temperature and longitude might be present, the true essence of travel writing lies in conveying the author’s personal experience and interpretation of a place. This subjective lens is what makes travel writing compelling, but it also necessitates a critical approach from the reader.
Writing, by its very nature, is an act of editing and selection. Travel writers inevitably omit details that don’t fit their overarching narrative, further shaping the reader’s perception. Venice serves as a potent example. Often romanticized in travel literature, a first-time visitor might be surprised by the reality of flooding, sewage smells, and overwhelming crowds – aspects often glossed over in idealized portrayals.
Therefore, Emily advises readers to approach travel books with “a pinch of salt.” Travel narratives are always filtered through the author’s vision, and individual experiences will inevitably differ. Historically, travel writing has been even more prone to embellishment and outright fabrication, with medieval accounts filled with mythical creatures and fantastical encounters. While modern travel writing is generally more grounded in reality, the inherent subjectivity remains.
Considering the impact of travel writing, particularly on perceptions of entire continents like Africa, becomes crucial. Many classic travel books about Africa were written decades ago, potentially perpetuating outdated stereotypes. Africa, in reality, is incredibly diverse and has undergone significant changes in recent decades. Responsible travel writing, and critical reading, are essential to challenge stereotypes and foster a more nuanced understanding of different cultures and places, enriching the true travel meaning.
Maps as Processes, Not Just Objects of Paper
Maps are indispensable tools for travelers, guiding our explorations and shaping our understanding of the world. Emily, however, challenges the conventional view of maps as static objects. She proposes that maps are better understood as “processes” – dynamic and constantly evolving representations of space.
“Are maps things or processes?”
Drawing a philosophical distinction between static objects and dynamic processes, Emily argues that maps, especially in the digital age, are far from fixed. Online mapping platforms like Google Maps are continuously updated, reflecting real-time changes. This constant updating suggests that maps are not static entities but rather ongoing processes of data collection and representation.
Even physical maps are not immune to change. Emily points to historical examples, such as maps of London updated during World War II to reflect bomb damage. These alterations demonstrate that maps are not simply representations of a fixed reality but are actively modified to reflect evolving circumstances.
The very nature of borders and place names highlights the dynamic nature of maps. A world map on the wall might appear static, yet political boundaries and place names change over time. Emily’s map, for instance, still labels Malawi as Nyasaland, its former name. This underscores that maps are snapshots in time, reflecting a particular moment in history and the political realities of that era.
Emily further emphasizes that “maps are objects of power.” They are not neutral representations but are imbued with the perspectives and agendas of their creators. The placement of the map’s center, for example, often reflects geopolitical biases. Historically, maps might have centered on Jerusalem or Athens; today, European maps often center on Europe, while maps from China or the US might place their respective countries at the center. These subtle choices reveal the mapmaker’s worldview and priorities.
Moreover, maps can be used to assert power and influence perceptions of territorial claims. Historically, maps have been manipulated to depict borders in ways that favor particular nations. Even today, digital maps like Google Maps can display different borders depending on the user’s location, reflecting local perspectives on disputed territories. This fluidity and subjectivity inherent in mapmaking further reinforces the idea that travel meaning is shaped by the tools and perspectives we use to navigate the world.
The Mercator projection, a widely used map projection, exemplifies the power dynamics embedded in maps. It distorts the size of landmasses, making countries in the Northern Hemisphere appear larger and those in the Southern Hemisphere smaller. This distortion subtly reinforces a Eurocentric worldview, diminishing the visual prominence of continents like Africa. Alternative projections, which accurately represent landmass proportions, offer a more equitable and geographically accurate perspective, challenging the power dynamics embedded in traditional maps and enriching our understanding of global travel meaning.
Doom Tourism: Ethical Dilemmas and the Future of Travel
Travel often involves experiencing places of beauty and wonder, but it can also lead us to sites facing destruction or disappearance. Emily explores the concept of “Doom Tourism,” which includes visiting places threatened by climate change or other forms of destruction, as well as “Dark Tourism,” sites associated with death and tragedy.
Doom tourism raises complex ethical questions. On one hand, experiencing a place before it vanishes can be seen as a valuable and poignant form of travel. Like witnessing a fleeting rainbow, there’s a sense of urgency and appreciation in seeing something beautiful before it’s gone.
“In principle, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with doing tourism or dark tourism. So the idea of going to see a place before it’s destroyed because it’s doomed in some way. I think why not? That sounds fine to me.”
However, the ethical dilemma arises when the very act of tourism contributes to the destruction of the place being visited. Fragile ecosystems like glaciers and coral reefs are particularly vulnerable. Visiting glaciers, while seemingly innocuous, can contribute to their degradation through trampling and the carbon footprint of travel. Similarly, visiting coral reefs, often promoted as “must-see-before-they-disappear” destinations, can further damage these delicate environments through physical contact and pollutants like sunscreen. This paradox forces us to consider the ethical implications of our travel choices and the true travel meaning in the face of environmental vulnerability.
Union Glacier in Antarctica. Photo Licensed from BigStockPhoto
Virtual Reality (VR) offers a potential solution to mitigate the negative impacts of doom tourism. VR scuba diving, for example, could allow us to experience coral reefs without physically damaging them. Emily envisions VR becoming an increasingly important tool for travel, providing safe, affordable, and environmentally conscious alternatives.
The Future of Travel: VR and the Enduring Value of In-Person Experiences
Looking ahead, Emily predicts a significant rise in VR travel. VR offers numerous advantages: it’s safe, inexpensive, and can overcome many of the inconveniences and anxieties associated with physical travel. As VR technology advances, the immersive experiences it provides will only become more compelling. VR opens up possibilities for exploring both real-world locations recreated digitally and entirely imaginary worlds, expanding the very definition of travel meaning.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more VR travel, if for exactly these kinds of reasons. Travel can often be difficult and scary and really inconvenient — and expensive. And I think VR offers us a really safe, cheap alternative.”
However, Emily also emphasizes that the value of travel is not solely about seeing famous monuments or beautiful landscapes. For her, “part of the value of travel lies in the difficulty and the fear and the inconvenience.” These challenges, while sometimes unpleasant, contribute to personal growth and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world. She doesn’t see VR replacing in-person travel entirely but rather coexisting as a complementary form of exploration.
VR may be better suited for certain types of travel experiences. Visiting highly touristed sites like the Egyptian pyramids, which can be overwhelming and detract from the experience, might be enhanced through a VR tour. VR could offer access to areas normally off-limits, like the interior of the pyramids, and create a more controlled and immersive experience. However, the sensory richness and unpredictable encounters of walking through a bustling Cairo souk, for instance, are experiences that VR may struggle to replicate fully.
The question of “truth” in VR travel experiences also arises. Even a VR recreation of a real place is filtered through the perspective of its creators. The camera operator’s choices – what to focus on, what to pan across – shape the viewer’s experience. VR, while offering a powerful tool for exploration, will always be an indirect representation of reality, a perspective filtered through someone else’s lens. Despite these limitations, VR holds immense potential to democratize travel and offer new dimensions to the travel meaning in the 21st century.
Recommended Travel Books: Finding Inspiration and Perspective
For those seeking further inspiration and philosophical insights into travel, Emily recommends two books:
- “A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush” by Eric Newby: A humorous and thoughtful account of travels in Afghanistan in 1958, filled with scrapes and insightful observations.
- “The Art of Travel” by Alain de Botton: Explores the perspectives of various artists and novelists on travel, offering a different yet related angle to the philosophy of travel.
Emily’s own book, “The Meaning of Travel: Philosophers Abroad,” stands out as a unique and insightful exploration into the philosophy of travel, offering a fresh perspective on a topic that resonates deeply with many.
Conclusion: Embracing the Meaning of Travel
Travel, as explored through a philosophical lens, is far more than just sightseeing. It’s about embracing otherness, confronting fears, understanding diverse perspectives, and navigating the complexities of representation in travel writing and mapping. As the future of travel evolves with technologies like VR, the core travel meaning remains rooted in our human desire for exploration, discovery, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Whether embarking on a physical journey to a faraway land or exploring new worlds through virtual reality, the quest for meaning through travel continues to enrich our lives.
What does travel mean to you? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
