The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in AmericaFirst published in 1962, this wonderfully provocative book introduced the notion of “pseudo-events”—events such as press conferences and presidential debates, which are manufactured solely in order to be reported—and the contemporary definition of celebrity as “a person who is known for his well-knownness.” Since then Daniel J. Boorstin’s prophetic vision of an America inundated by its own illusions has become an essential resource for any reader who wants to distinguish the manifold deceptions of our culture from its few enduring truths. |
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Page 89
... American Express Travelers Cheque was copy- righted , and in the years since it has done much to ease the traveler's cares . ( By 1960 about two billion dollars ' worth were being sold annually . ) In 1895 American Express opened its ...
... American Express Travelers Cheque was copy- righted , and in the years since it has done much to ease the traveler's cares . ( By 1960 about two billion dollars ' worth were being sold annually . ) In 1895 American Express opened its ...
Page 90
... American Express and Cook's . In 1922 American Express dispatched the first all - water round - the- world pleasure cruise in the Laconia . Afterwards a similar cruise was arranged every year . The great backwash had be- gun . Americans ...
... American Express and Cook's . In 1922 American Express dispatched the first all - water round - the- world pleasure cruise in the Laconia . Afterwards a similar cruise was arranged every year . The great backwash had be- gun . Americans ...
Page 110
... American Ex- press was sending only five or six tours out West each year , and for each tour eighteen people were ... Express did over a million dollars ' worth of business within a single month , and handled nearly a quarter - million ...
... American Ex- press was sending only five or six tours out West each year , and for each tour eighteen people were ... Express did over a million dollars ' worth of business within a single month , and handled nearly a quarter - million ...
Contents
FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION ix | 3 |
From the American Dream to American Illusions? | 239 |
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING | 263 |
Copyright | |
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abridgment actually admirable adventure advertising ambiguous American Express appeared Baedeker Barnum became become believe best seller big names biographies Boorstin celebrity Chicago Clairol clubs contrived corporate image course dramatic editors endorsement example experience fact film George Gallup Graphic Revolution hero historians ideals illusions increasing interest James Gordon Bennett Joice Heth less Lindbergh literary Literary Digest literature live magazines Marilyn Monroe modern motion picture movie Museum Muzak newsmen newspapers novel Nowadays offered original ourselves overshadow P. T. Barnum package paperback person photograph political polls popular President printed problems pseudo pseudo-events public opinion public relations published radio reader Reader's Digest reality record reported rise self-fulfilling prophecy sense simply social spontaneous star system story techniques television Thom McAn tion tour travel literature true twentieth century United vivid word writing York