Clynes will deliver the Liberal Arts Forum Lecture titled "The Art of Audacity" on Thursday, Feb. 13, in Whitley Auditorium. Admission is free and no ticket is required.
Calling all adventure seekers! As part of the Liberal Arts Forum, Elon this week will host National Geographic author and photographer Tom Clynes who will deliver a talk titled “The Art of Audacity.” He will be bring his “audacious” adventures and travel experiences to Whitley Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free and no ticket is required.
In advance of his visit, Clynes talked about what audacity means to him, the meaning of the French term “depaysement” and he shared travel advice.
What does audacity mean to you?
Audacity is typically defined as a willingness to take bold risks. Most of us have the capacity within us to do amazing things, but we often don’t believe it. When we do, when we believe we can actually make a difference, actually change the world, that’s audacity.
How does your job at National Geographic influence your day to day life and travels?
My job reporting for National Geographic and other publications is sometimes amazing, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes utterly ridiculous. I travel hard, in logistically challenging places, and I don’t mind a bit of deprivation: I’d rather be uncomfortable than miss out on something interesting or beautiful. Americans are known as uninspired travelers, but some of us crave something more. I understand that a lot of Elon University students fit into that category, so I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone Thursday!
After all of your years of travel, what still excites you about it and why?
For me, it’s still fundamentally about curiosity. I’m curious about everything and everyone. No matter how much I read or see on a screen, I don’t think I’ll be truly well-informed if I’m seeing the world mainly through other people’s filters. I believe that it’s intrinsically worthwhile to venture out and discover, for myself, what’s happening out there.
What is a piece of advice that you have for people who are just beginning to travel frequently?
Make friends with uncertainty. The French have a word, “depaysement,” that refers to the unsettled feeling you get when you leave your safe confines and travel to a place that’s outrageously different. It’s an energizing rush that puts you fabulously off-balance. It’s unsettling, but liberating. And it’s an incredible confidence-builder.