Reckoning with the past : National Geographic and the limits of social justice rhetoric / Leland G. Spencer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Spencer, Leland G., Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National Geographic Channel (Television station : Washington, D.C.).

National Geographic Society (U.S.).

National geographic.

Journalism and social justice--United States.

Journalism and social justice.

American periodicals--Social aspects.

American periodicals.

Documentary television programs--Social aspects--United States.

Documentary television programs.

Place of Publication:

Michigan State University Press, 2026.

Summary:

"For over a century, National Geographic has shaped American visual culture, captivating audiences with stunning photography and compelling storytelling. Yet behind its iconic yellow border lies a fraught legacy of gender bias, racial misrepresentation, and colonialist narratives. In this incisive study, Leland G. Spencer examines the brand's recent attempts to reckon with that legacy across its magazine and television platforms. From special issues spotlighting transgender lives to a public acknowledgment of past racism to a magazine edition created entirely by women, these efforts signal a move toward inclusivity. But as Spencer reveals through rigorous rhetorical analysis, these gestures often fall short. The texts themselves frequently echo the same systemic inequalities they seek to redress. National Geographic's progressive rebranding, he argues, remains tangled in the very histories it aims to transcend"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Is National Geographic making a social justice turn?

Pink and blue in a yellow box : National Geographic's special issue on gender identity

National Geographic's racial apology : a half-performative

Cheerful epistemic negligence and persistent harm : Katie Couric's Gender Revolution documentary

Coddling working-class white grievances : empathy inside out in Katie Couric's America Inside Out

Not objects : centering women as writers, photographers, and creators.

ISBN:

9781609178260