--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The funny thing about National Geographic…" description: "\"“The funny thing about National Geographic was that it told the same sort of elemental story every time—featuring whatever was lost or unexplored, myst..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/amanda-lindhout-8267_national-geographic_the-funny-thing-about-national-geographi_735272.jpg" --- # The funny thing about National Geographic was that it told… ![“The funny thing about National Geographic was that it told the same sort of elemental story every time—featuring whatever was lost or unexplored, mystical or wild. You’re here, the magazine seemed to say, and we’re there. It was not meant to be a taunt, more like a small flag planted on behalf of…” quote by Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/amanda-lindhout-8267_national-geographic_the-funny-thing-about-national-geographi_735272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/amanda-lindhout-8267_national-geographic_the-funny-thing-about-national-geographi_735272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/amanda-lindhout-8267_national-geographic_the-funny-thing-about-national-geographi_735272.jpg) > ““The funny thing about National Geographic was that it told the same sort of elemental story every time—featuring whatever was lost or unexplored, mystical or wild. You’re here, the magazine seemed to say, and we’re there. It was not meant to be a taunt, more like a small flag planted on behalf of the stay-at-homers.”” [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques how the magazine frames distant, exotic places as “lost” or “wild,” positioning readers as outsiders and reinforcing a static, voyeuristic view of the world. **In simple terms:** It points out a pattern of exoticizing other cultures while keeping the audience at home. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge narratives that exoticize others. Themes media criticism colonial gaze travel perception identity exploration Mood critical reflective analytical Type observation commentary critical analysis When to use this quote - travel writing - educational curricula - museum exhibits - social media travel posts Key Concepts exoticism othering cultural framing media narrative viewer‑subject relationship Questions to Reflect On - How does this framing affect our understanding of other societies? - What alternative narratives could replace the “lost and wild” trope? A Different Perspective The perspective may overlook the agency of local peoples and the dynamic nature of cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elemental Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elemental-story-5751100/) [Geographic Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geographic-told-5751098/) [Magazine Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magazine-say-515798/) [National geographic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-geographic/) [Wild Magazine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-magazine-5751099/) ## Related quotes > [Critics? How do they happen? I know how it happened to me. 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One day I'd like to talk to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/every-time-i-give-a-straight-answer-and-read-it-in-a-magazine-i-say/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [98% of the people who get the magazine say they read the cartoons first - and the other 2% are lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/98-of-the-people-who-get-the-magazine-say-they-read-the-cartoons/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [“If you don’t believe in God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, before you read National Geographic, you will after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-weiss/if-you-don-t-believe-in-god-almighty-maker-of-heaven-and-earth-before/) [Leah Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-weiss/) > [I have a stunt double; his name is Glen Levy, and he has the hardest punch in the world. Seriously, it's actually been recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-horner/i-have-a-stunt-double-his-name-is-glen-levy-and-he-has-the-hardest/) [Craig Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-horner/) > [I only watch National Geographic Channel, and also I have the app on my phone. I'm into astronomy and love to learn about new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-nigam/i-only-watch-national-geographic-channel-and-also-i-have-the-app-on/) [Sonu Nigam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-nigam/) > [I grew up in the 'hood around prostitutes, drug dealers, killers, and gangbangers, but I also grew up juxtaposed: On the doorknob outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-grew-up-in-the-hood-around-prostitutes-drug-dealers-killers-and/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I subscribe to National Geographic, Scientific American, Discover, and a slew of other magazines. And it is while reading articles for pleasure and interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-subscribe-to-national-geographic-scientific-american-discover-and-a/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [I'm a big fan of 'National Geographic', the magazine and the channel. Anything to do with the natural world. For years, when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weston-jones/i-m-a-big-fan-of-national-geographic-the-magazine-and-the-channel/) [Tom Weston-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-weston-jones/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I don't actually have a one wellspring of inspiration. Though I'm most often inspired while reading - both fiction and nonfiction. I subscribe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-don-t-actually-have-a-one-wellspring-of-inspiration-though-i-m-most/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did it primarily out of curiosity. A lot of legendary photographers had worked on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/i-did-it-once-and-national-geographic-recruited-me-i-did-it-primarily/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) ## More by Amanda Lindhout > [The countries with the greatest problems have the kindest people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/the-countries-with-the-greatest-problems-have-the-kindest-people/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [I'm afraid of elevators, because they are an enclosed space, but I get in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/i-m-afraid-of-elevators-because-they-are-an-enclosed-space-but-i-get/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [I know firsthand how critical support systems are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/i-know-firsthand-how-critical-support-systems-are/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [Contemplating Christmas when you are isolated and far from home brings its own unique pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/contemplating-christmas-when-you-are-isolated-and-far-from-home/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [ “I'd spent my life believing that people were, at heart, kind and good. This was what the world had shown me. \[...\] If humans… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/i-d-spent-my-life-believing-that-people-were-at-heart-kind-and-good/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [After spending 460 days as a hostage, I did emerge a fundamentally changed person. But I think, like everyone does as they grow older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/after-spending-460-days-as-a-hostage-i-did-emerge-a-fundamentally/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [I think that I find a lot of my healing out in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/i-think-that-i-find-a-lot-of-my-healing-out-in-the-world/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [I swung from one place to the next, sometimes backward, sometimes forward, capitalizing on my own momentum, knowing that at some point my arms—or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/i-swung-from-one-place-to-the-next-sometimes-backward-sometimes/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [“After almost seven months in Baghdad, I set my sights on Somalia. The reasons to do it seemed straightforward. Somalia was a mess. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/after-almost-seven-months-in-baghdad-i-set-my-sights-on-somalia-the/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [The big-time journalists generally had kidnapping insurance through their news organizations. Usually, it would pay for a crisis response company to help negotiate for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/the-big-time-journalists-generally-had-kidnapping-insurance-through/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [It was a slow understanding that my kidnappers really are a product of their environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/it-was-a-slow-understanding-that-my-kidnappers-really-are-a-product/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [It was a slow understanding that the lack of education in a country like Somalia creates these huge social problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/it-was-a-slow-understanding-that-the-lack-of-education-in-a-country/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [Somalia is very dangerous, and no one knows that better than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/somalia-is-very-dangerous-and-no-one-knows-that-better-than-i/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [“I did not mention that my father was home with his gay lover and that I was in Bangladesh on vacation from my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/i-did-not-mention-that-my-father-was-home-with-his-gay-lover-and-that/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [War dehumanizes everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/war-dehumanizes-everyone/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) [Explore all 82 Amanda Lindhout quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) ## More National geographic quotes > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [I did it once, and National Geographic recruited me. I did it primarily out of curiosity. A lot of legendary photographers had worked on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/i-did-it-once-and-national-geographic-recruited-me-i-did-it-primarily/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [I don't actually have a one wellspring of inspiration. Though I'm most often inspired while reading - both fiction and nonfiction. I subscribe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-don-t-actually-have-a-one-wellspring-of-inspiration-though-i-m-most/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I'm a big fan of 'National Geographic', the magazine and the channel. Anything to do with the natural world. For years, when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weston-jones/i-m-a-big-fan-of-national-geographic-the-magazine-and-the-channel/) [Tom Weston-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-weston-jones/) > [I subscribe to National Geographic, Scientific American, Discover, and a slew of other magazines. And it is while reading articles for pleasure and interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rollins/i-subscribe-to-national-geographic-scientific-american-discover-and-a/) [James Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rollins/) > [I grew up in the 'hood around prostitutes, drug dealers, killers, and gangbangers, but I also grew up juxtaposed: On the doorknob outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-grew-up-in-the-hood-around-prostitutes-drug-dealers-killers-and/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I only watch National Geographic Channel, and also I have the app on my phone. I'm into astronomy and love to learn about new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonu-nigam/i-only-watch-national-geographic-channel-and-also-i-have-the-app-on/) [Sonu Nigam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonu-nigam/) > [I have a stunt double; his name is Glen Levy, and he has the hardest punch in the world. Seriously, it's actually been recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-horner/i-have-a-stunt-double-his-name-is-glen-levy-and-he-has-the-hardest/) [Craig Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-horner/) > [“If you don’t believe in God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, before you read National Geographic, you will after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-weiss/if-you-don-t-believe-in-god-almighty-maker-of-heaven-and-earth-before/) [Leah Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-weiss/) > [I love weird science. I learned in an article in 'National Geographic' that there are trillions of bacteria in our guts that help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/i-love-weird-science-i-learned-in-an-article-in-national-geographic/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [The real magic in National Geographic isn't how much money they have left at the end of the year. It's the fact that through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-case/the-real-magic-in-national-geographic-isn-t-how-much-money-they-have/) [Steve Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-case/) > [Everyone thinks it would be great to work for National Geographic. So did I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/everyone-thinks-it-would-be-great-to-work-for-national-geographic-so/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [“I have had my mother's wing of my genetic ancestry analyzed by the National Geographic tracing service and there it all is: the arrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-have-had-my-mother-s-wing-of-my-genetic-ancestry-analyzed-by-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's not my vision when I cover a woman's face with a chador. I got the idea from a 'National Geographic' photo. I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/it-s-not-my-vision-when-i-cover-a-woman-s-face-with-a-chador-i-got/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) [Browse all 67 National geographic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-geographic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The funny thing about National Geographic was that it told the same sort of elemental story every time—featuring whatever was lost or unexplored, mystical or wild. You’re here, the magazine seemed to say, and we’re there. 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