From Conquest to Cognition: 20th Century Exploration Narratives

Abstract

... Some of the most interesting developments in exploration literature have occurred since 1900. ... The 20th century has witnessed a gradual evolution in the response to this "call of the wild," an evolution that moves through three phases. The first stage ... is characterized by a desire to dominate the wilderness .... the second stage sought a relatively simple enjoyment of the natural world ... In ... the third and most recent stage - the explorer seeks out unspoiled regions for what he can learn from them, for the wilderness teaches him about himself and his antecedents. Three representative travels in the North sharply illustrate this development. ...