| Product: |
National Geographic |
| Date: |
02/03/06 (245 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Amazing photography, usually fasincating
Disadvantages: Sometimes a bit biased
Ah the National Geo…its been going a good hundred years and is showing no sign of letting up. It suffers from a slight case of Americanism, and also you find a lot of the people who read it tend to be pseudo-cultured muppets. Nonetheless it has fascinating articles and the photography is never less than absolutely stunning.
What’s in the National Geo this month…
Letter from the editor…nothing unusual.
On screen and online…a rundown of what’s on the National Geo channel and the website.
Behind the scenes…A quick look at a website, this month its Google Earth.
Visions of Earth…a double page photograph, usually of the jaw-dropping variety. This month it’s a stunning picture of two penguins underwater.
Forum…the letters page, for all the pseudo-intellectuals to write in about the mistakes made in last months issue.
Geographica…a Spotlight on people, places or creatures. This month its “Farewell to Frogs”, an article about a mystery disease which seems to be wiping out the worlds amphibians…very cheerful.
On assignment…a quick rundown on what’s in the issue this month, with nice pictures.
Then we get on to the juicy stuff. National Geographic is a veritable mine of information. It produces articles on everything from the functions of the human skin to wildlife to people and places. It offers interesting insights into the lives of ordinary people on the other side of the globe, and iconic images which stay with you to your dying day. It offers an ever-so-slightly-to-the-left-of-George-Bush viewpoint in a very American way…although usually it sits on the political fence, so to speak.
The cover article “Who’s Winning in Iraq” an article about the independent Kurdish people in the north of the country, and how they are the key to a united Iraq. Portrayed by the magazine as very moderate, politically and religiously speaking, especially when compared with the more rigid beliefs of the Sunnis and Shiites, the article begins with the photographers and journalists receiving death threats because of their association with the Kurds. Its an insightful and well-written article that lends us a bit of hope for Iraq.
“Genocide and the Science of Proof” is a bit of a more difficult read, as you might guess from the title. Focussing on Saddam Hussein’s trial, it discusses different ways of gaining forensic evidence from the mass graves of the skeletons of murdered Iraqis. It also covers previous genocides such as the holocaust, and those in Rwanda and Kosovo. It also discusses why, despite the horrific atrocities of the past, this kind of thing seems to keep happening again, and the idea of diminished responsibility.
“The Unexpected Canyon” is a stunning, mostly pictorial article on the Grand Canyon. Featuring an amazing double spread of winter mist over the canyon, contrasted nicely by a summer photograph with the usual image of parched red rock on the next page, it discusses the lives of those who used to live in the canyon itself. Mostly this one is worth viewing for the breathtaking photography.
“Of Lynx and Men” is the obligatory monthly nice little story that makes you go “awwww”. This month it concerns the capture of Canadian Lynx for re-release into the Colorado Rockies, where the lynx have become extinct, leading to several problems. A fairy touching and sweet article about a rehabilitated lynx finding a boy lynx and making lots of cute little lynx…complete with lovely pictures of the furry felines themselves.
Following this is a fascinating article on the Gods of the ancient Maya civilization. Charting the progress of an archaeological dig it gives us a cutaway view into one of the pyramids, it also discusses what is known of the faith of this ancient people, and photographs of the earliest preserved Mayan mural.
“Last Days of the Ice Hunters” has to be my favourite of this months articles. It follows a band of men who live in Greenland and live in the traditional fashion of spending their winters on the sea ice hunting walruses with packs of half-wild, wolf like dogs. it’s a charming story about a custom preserved from ancient days and how the hunters are now having to cope with the effects of global warming, which is causing dangerously thin sea ice which the dogs have to navigate and the flooding of entire villages due to the rising sea level. It includes some fascinating information on polar bears and the Greenland dog who’s blood is incredibly pure (Greenland bans the import of other breeds of dog). It finishes with the chilling observation from one of the hunters…”When the day comes that we don’t get any ice, that day will be a disaster”.
The articles are lengthy and well-written and fairly in-depth. The journalists provide a source of empathy, a camera view into another world and most articles are written in a fairly sensitive manner to other cultures. You do find an ever-so-slight pushing of American ideals such as the perceived improving of the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, however generally you find the magazine is fairly accepting of other viewpoints, although you will find the odd bit of disdain in their for a certain practise or culture. The journalism is usually insightful and deep, and pretty much all of the National Geo journalists have the ability to transport you to the other side of the globe in a few short, beautifully descriptive sentences. Sometimes the articles can be a little long-winded, and if you suffer from a short attention span, like me, you may find yourself looking at the photography for hours instead. Which is no bad thing.
The main reason I buy National Geo is for the photography, which is, without exception, absolutely stunning. You can guarantee National Geo will have photography that makes your jaw drop each and every month. Penguins, deep sea monsters, beautiful scenery and wonderful faces from all over the globe, its what makes the magazine worth reading on the few occasions that the articles suck. To me National Geo has some of the best photographers ever on their staff, and now and then an iconic image comes out of the magazine that leaves an imprint lasting decades…the best example I can think of on this count is the 1984 Steve McCurry portrait of an orphaned Afghan refugee with brilliant green eyes that were at once terrified and ferocious…this is a face that has inspired millions in aid donations for refugees all over the world, and McCurry was still receiving daily letters asking about her when he finally found her again in Afghanistan in 2002, with all her youthful beauty erased but still with those smouldering eyes. I have yet to read an issue of the National Geo that has photography that was even average, let alone bad, and if you cant stand the journalism its still worth buying for this alone.
The magazine provides quite a balance, its not all doom and gloom global warming and war tragedies, you find quite a lot of uplifting articles about the rebuilding of societies after war or the captive breeding programmes of rare species. it’s a good magazine for breaking preconceptions of cultures and people, it doesn’t aim to interview people at the top rung of the ladder, instead the everyday person who might live exotic lives, by our standards anyway. By no means is it a perfect magazine, but there is usually something of great interest to be found within its dinky pages every month, on the few occasions the journalism is patchy you can always count on the photography being superb.
Summary: Take a look at our fantastic planet...
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