Summary of National Geographic by Alexandria

Alexandria Perezchica
English 100
5/27/10

Summary of National Geographic by Alexandria


The article “The Confident Gaze” by Shekhar Deshpande is regarding how National Geographic may not be giving their viewers an accurate aspect of life in other cultures. Deshpande seems to think the magazine isn’t fairly representing cultures because of the Western Society’s inability to understand it, because it is so foreign to them. Deshpande states “It is slick, technically flawless or even adventurous, and it attempts to sanitize and universalize the uncomfortable as well as different elements of other cultures” (2). The essence of Deshpande’s argument is that the editors of the magazine are trying to put other cultures in a type of box, one that our American society can comprehend and relate to. They are basing other cultures to have some of our ideology when in fact theirs is almost the complete opposite. The magazine is doing this to “make the world a happy place and a happy place especially for the Western eye” (2). An for the world to be a happy place the magazine often illustrates these authentic cultures to some what resemble the American ideology and values. So not to distress what Western society believes is the correct way of living.
I can understand why Deshpande is saying that National Geographic is misrepresenting these cultures, but I don’t believe it is their entire fault because they are only fulfilling consumerist needs by giving them what they want to see and read about. It is also known that the magazine is valued for its wonderful photography and the articles are there to give their readers enough information to make them feel connected to these cultures, but not enough to demonstrate what the culture is like as a whole.
Some magazines give you the ability to feel powerful and at a higher level than other people, yet at the same time permit you to have compassion for the people that you are criticizing. Deshpande is firm that this is how National Geographic is selling their product. Deshpande states “[t]he primitive, often a focus of the magazine, serves the same function by providing images of what ‘would have been’ if the West had not taken a march toward civilization” (3). Basically, Deshpande is saying that Western society can look at the images displayed in National Geographic and in a sense feel better about their lives because they feel they have made more progress than these “Third world” countries.