The Myth of the Explorer: The Press, Sensationalism, and Geographical DiscoveryThe characters of explorers such as Livingstone, Stanley, and Peary have assumed almost mythical proportions. Their names are associated with images of heroism, self-sacrifice, and patriotism. In reality, however, many exploratory expeditions were tainted by deception, greed, incompetence, ignorance, and failure. How is it, then, that the heroic myths have been created and perpetuated? Concentrating on exploration between 1855 and 1910, Beau Riffenburgh examines how the sensation-hungry Anglo-American press created the popular culture of the explorer, and reveals both the subterfuge as well as the genuine bravery behind events such as Cook and Peary's race for the North Pole, Bennett's discovery of the Arctic, and the solution of the mysteries surrounding the mountains of the moon. Based on extensive original research, the book reasses many explorers' reputations and makes intriguing links between popular culture, the growth of science, imperialism, and the role of the media. |
Contents
vii | 49 |
James Gordon Bennett discovers the Arctic | 69 |
New Journalism and new lands | 100 |
Copyright | |
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accounts adventure Africa American newspapers American press Amundsen Arctic exploration August became Bennett Britain British Cape Sabine circulation claimed Cook Cook's coverage Daily Mail Daily Telegraph Despite discovery editor England English press Eskimos fact fame farthest north Franklin search Franz Joseph Land Geographical Society Gilder Greely Greenland Harmsworth headline Hearst Henry hero Illustrated interest Island Jackson James Gordon Bennett Jeannette Joseph Pulitzer journalism journalist journey July Lake Lake Victoria later Leslie's Livingstone London Magazine Markham morning Mount McKinley Nansen New-York Tribune Newnes nineteenth century Nordenskiöld North Pole Northwest Passage Norwegian November October Pall Mall Gazette paper party Peary Peary's polar exploration popular Post-Dispatch printed published Pulitzer Pulitzer's reached the North reached the Pole readers reports Schwatka scientific sensational sensationalism September 1909 ship sledge Speke sponsored Stanley Stanley's Stead story sublime success Sverdrup voyage Weekly William Henry Gilder World York Herald