Publication Date

Spring 5-5-2026

School

College of Arts and Sciences

Major

English

Keywords

Travel, writing, travel writing, social media, Instagram, literary genre, literary travel writing, emotional transformation in travel, storytelling in digital media, digital media, travel sponsorship, brand collaborations travel, travel influencers, geotagging, travel for business, user-generated content, UGC, social media's impact on travel

Disciplines

Communication Technology and New Media | Digital Humanities | Journalism Studies | Social Media | Visual Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines how social media has initiated a shift in the genre of travel writing from educational cultural observation to a form of engagement-driven, monetized travel content creation. Historically, the genre has functioned as a descriptive genre dedicated to educating readers who would never get to see the destinations they read about modern travel writing and content creation use emotional persuasion to market travel experience as a product, redefining the genre. Using methods like geotagging, user-generated content (UGC), and emotionally charged storytelling approaches, travel creators no longer just describe locations but instead promise readers that if they visit, they can undergo personal transformation, which has introduced ethical concerns. Ultimately, this thesis argues that authenticity and decommercialization are the only ways travel writing can reconnect with its roots. Returning to its original purpose, that is, observing, interpreting, and communicating cultural differences, moves the genre away from commercialization and rediscover its role as a meaningful form of cross-cultural documentation rather than a tool for personal branding or tourism promotion.

Download

Share

COinS