An Idiot Abroad: Is he or is he not? Karl Pilkington Gaze

An Idiot Abroad: Is he or is he not? Karl Pilkington's Gaze

Author: Ami-Louise Newman University: University of Wolverhampton

Abstract:
This paper analyses whether Karl Pilkington, who is known through the TV series 'An Idiot Abroad', is actually an idiot or that Karl is a new form of tourist who consumes tourism in a different way. 'A Tourist Gaze', cultural exchange, cultural shock and authenticity were used to reach a conclusion.

Keywords:
Cultural Tourism, Cultural Exchange/Shock, Authenticity

Discussion Paper:

An Idiot Abroad: Is he or is he not? Karl Pilkington Gaze.

This paper fits into Stand 5, as it looks at how a Karl Pilkington consumes tourism and also interacts with the destinations he visits. Karl Pilkington is known for in the TV series 'An Idiot Abroad' where he is sent around the world by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Stephen Merchant wants to broaden Karl's perception and experience new things, whilst Ricky Gervais is doing it to entertain himself and the viewing audience. Throughout his travels, Karl mainly experiences the different cultures connected to the wonders he'll be visiting. Cultural tourism is 'not just a consumption of the cultural products of the past, but also of contemporary culture or the 'way of life' of a people of region' (Richards, 2001a: 7, cited in Smith, 2009).

Karl Pilkington finds it different to embrace all the different cultures; this could be because Karl does not know how to embrace the culture. 'They are consuming because they supposedly generated pleasurable experiences which are different from those typically encountered in everyday life' (Urry, 2002). Although Karl is portrayed through the TV series as an idiot, Karl is aware of his cultural surrounding, with the tribe in Peru; Karl took part in cultural exchange. Karl took cultural knowledge from the tribes, instead of giving some of his culture to them. The tribe in Peru have a set of beliefs and traditions which they tried to get Karl involved with, although Karl prefers to have a calming and relaxing holiday, he did participate. One of the beliefs Karl encountered was the tribe extracting poison from a frog and injecting the poison into one another, this they believed would enhance their hunting ability. Like the majority of people watching it from home, they would agree with Karl for not taking part in this activity, especially as vomiting was a side-effect.

At the beginning of each episode, Karl is told where he would be traveling to; most tourists would be excited at the idea of visiting a wonderful new place, whereas Karl isn't. When Karl was told he would be traveling to Peru to see Machu Picchu, the first thing that came into his head was delivery drivers. He focused more on the aspect that because delivery drivers moan at him for living on the second floor, they would moan hundred times more if you lived at Machu Picchu (Pilkington, 2010). Although Karl's comments are seen as negative and someone who isn't interested, from my opinion this is just how Karl expresses his view and interoperates the destination. How Karl is viewed, is how people interoperate whether he's an idiot or not.

Throughout his travels, Karl encounters some cultures which are a shock to him. One of the main cultural shocks Karl has is when he tries to talk to Chinese people on his first day in China. 'Nothing blank, dunno if smiling means smiling here…' (Pilkington, 2010) However, like most tourists this is not uncommon and is experienced by all tourists. Although Karl tries his hardest to interact with the locals, he gets frustrated, especially with his translator in Peru. Interacting with locals is common now in tourism as tourists aim to have more of an experience when on holiday rather than a relaxing holiday. This represents modern tourism; however, Karl Pilkington does not fall into this category. Although he is willing to get involved once he knows what he's doing, Karl does not go out of his way to interact with locals and the destination himself when on holiday.

Authenticity seems also to be the main focus point of Karl's opinion when visiting some of the wonders. When visiting the Great Wall of China, Karl found out that the wall was renovated both in the 1950's and 80's, he then came to the conclusion that it's the alright wall of china. 'My guide book says it was heavily restored in both the 1950's and the 1980's. Surely it can't count as a wonder if it's not original?' (Pilkington, 2010)

Whatever way you interoperate Karl Pilkington, it surely can be decided that he is not an idiot. Karl is a unique tourist, someone who consumes tourism in their own way, deciding on their own opinions and not being like everyone else by agreeing with everyone's opinion. Karl is showing tourists that they do not have to embrace the world and especially the wonders. Just because something is called a wonder doesn't mean you have to agree. Karl can be linked to both non-cultural tourists and cultural tourists, he is seen as a non-cultural tourist as he does not go out and seek culture and prefers to stay within Great Britain. Also, linked to cultural tourists because once he is at a destination he does get involved with local culture, even if he doesn't understand.

In my own opinion, Karl Pilkington is not an idiot; he is simply someone who doesn't follow crowds. Through his journey on 'An Idiot Abroad' he has developed his cultural awareness and did enjoy his experiences after he got back home. Karl Pilkington is a unique tourist and could be the start of tourists becoming more like Karl in the future.

Pilkington, K., (2010) An Idiot Abroad: The Travel Diaries of Karl Pilkington. Edinburgh: Canongate Books,

Richards (2000a: 7) cited in Smith, M.K., (2009) Issues in Cultural Tourism Studies. 2nd ed. Oxon: Routledge, p.1-17

Urry, J (2002). The Tourist Gaze. 2nd ed. London: SAGE Publications. P.1

I agree he is in fact not an idiot.

You are right in pointing our Karl perception on 'experiencing new things'. You also made a comment, "Karl does not know how to embrace the culture." Adding on to that, could it be that Karl Pilkington is 'psycho centric' traveler, in other words 'a person who likes things being planned and also someone who is afraid to take risks.' They often travel to places that are similar.

In addition, Karl Pilkington is either forced or made to be an 'allocentric' traveler ,as you had mentioned' a person who tries new things'. Similarly to 'allocentric', I mean a person who does not familiarize themselves with places that are organized for them. They see themselves as adventurous travelers.

In a way Karl Pilkington's upbringing has a lot to do with the ways he views or sees certain holidays. We could argue that Karl is perhaps a 'psycho centric' traveler who's made to conform as an 'allocentric' traveler. By this I mean these changes in the cultural condition are seen in contemporary tourism. The past becomes more interesting; looking backwards for meaning .The romantic gaze is being rediscovered to incorporate the new tourism (Urry, 2002). In a way it could have been shown that as consumers we are reacting to these sorts of experiences and as tourist we are moving away from mass tourism and we are in fact in search for the 'authentic' which is the image they are trying to portray.

Moreover you also mention that 'authenticity' is also the main focus on Karl's argument towards the Great Wall of China, "surely it counts as a wonder if not original". Adding onto that, it could be argued that since the World War (II). The status of knowledge created an explosion in western travel, education and the economic boom and the rise in the middle class (Lasusa,2007). In this newly affluent economy, it could be argued that people were now able to identify themselves with styles of consumption and leisure. In other words, people have the ability to challenge what is authentic and what is 'inauthentic'. Consumers have the ability and accessibility to travel to these destinations and make sense of their own meanings (Thrift, 1998).

We could suggest that he is 'psycho centric' traveler .His access to knowledge could have a lot to do with his up-bringing, a well educated man who knows a lot about the history of destinations. At the same- time 'Karl' knows what he looks for when he goes on holiday, and interacting with locals isn't one of them, because he finds it hard to conform to their culture.

Lastly, you mention that his unique tourist. Could it be that his just being a mass tourist who's holidays are often taken care of, without him having to interact with locals .Not everyone is looking for the authentic, but he is someone who's represents the mass tourist's perception towards the authentic and are happy to stick to familiar places. However it could be argued with time his perception towards new places may broaden his mind and maybe one day he may conform to these changes by trying out unfamiliar places through these experiences.

References
Thrift, N. (1989) Images of Social Change, in Hamnett, C. et al (eds) The Changing Social Structure, London: Sage/Open University, pp 12-42.
Lasusa,D. (2007). Eiffel Tower Key Chains and other pieces of Reality :The Philosophy of Souvenirs . The Philosophical Forum, Inc. 1 (1), 271-288.
Urry,J (2002). The Tourist Gaze. 2nd ed. London : Sage Publications . 1-183.