ABSTRACT
This chapter reflects on popular representations of wilderness and the wild, depictions, such as Into the Wild, which at one point or another have become very popular and very meaningful. It represents the recent massive proliferation of wilderness-related stories, both fictional and non-fictional. The chapter organizes along the lines of common themes: eight central and easily recognizable 'frames' that give wilderness representations their most common meanings and that provide their consumers with quickly recognizable communicative resources. The frame that most clearly embodies many of these contradictions is that of wilderness as fragile ecosystem. The chapter examines that of wilderness as an adventure playground. As was the case with Chris McCandless's own quest for personal salvation Cheryl Strayed's journey constructs the wilderness as a place where physical fatigue, discomfort, and the lack of modern conveniences can allow one to focus on the truly important meanings of life.
