Fabricating the Absolute Fake: America in Contemporary Pop CultureThe pageantry of Oprah Winfrey’s daytime talk show, the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola empire, Michael Jackson’s turn from the King of Pop into an iconic global recluse: American “pop” culture—and the contemporary films, television programs, and cultural objects that determine it—dominates the rest of the world through its hegemonic presence. Does that make everyone a hybridized American or do these elements find mediation within the other cultures that consume them? Fabricating the Absolute Fake applies elements of postmodern theory—Jean Baudrillard’s hyperreality and Umberto Eco’s “absolute fake”, among others—to this globally mediated American pop culture in order to examine both the phenomena itself and its appropriation in the Netherlands, as evidenced by diverse cultural icons like the Elvis-inspired crooner Lee Towers, the Moroccan-Dutch white rapper Ali B, musical tributes to an assassinated politician, and the Dutch reality soap opera scene. A fascinating exploration of how global cultures struggle to create their own “America” within a post–September 11 media culture, Fabricating the Absolute Fake reflects on what it might mean to truly take part in American popular culture. “A brilliant, thoroughly enjoyable work of cultural critique. . . . Jaap Kooijman takes seemingly exhausted concepts like “Americanization” and turns them on their head.”—Anne McCarthy, New York University |
From inside the book
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Page 9
... suggesting that the pictures present “scenes that Norman Rockwell's mordantly depressed cousin might have painted.” Yet, Johnson singled out Olaf's photograph of a young Boy Scout with his dog in a 1950s ice cream parlor (which is also ...
... suggesting that the pictures present “scenes that Norman Rockwell's mordantly depressed cousin might have painted.” Yet, Johnson singled out Olaf's photograph of a young Boy Scout with his dog in a 1950s ice cream parlor (which is also ...
Page 13
... as being American. In these examples, the line between Ameri- canization and globalization has become blurred, suggesting that the language of American pop culture – both the literal use of fabricating the absolute fake 13.
... as being American. In these examples, the line between Ameri- canization and globalization has become blurred, suggesting that the language of American pop culture – both the literal use of fabricating the absolute fake 13.
Page 19
... suggesting that the lightweight character of the discussed pop culture was taken way too seriously.30 Doomed to be either too lightweight or exceptionally pretentious, the academic analysis of pop culture turns out to just fabricating ...
... suggesting that the lightweight character of the discussed pop culture was taken way too seriously.30 Doomed to be either too lightweight or exceptionally pretentious, the academic analysis of pop culture turns out to just fabricating ...
Page 22
... suggesting that my analysis demonstrates the only possible way in which these processes can work . Instead , I want to show , by a subjective reading of one specific case study , how the combination of pleasure , pop star- dom , and the ...
... suggesting that my analysis demonstrates the only possible way in which these processes can work . Instead , I want to show , by a subjective reading of one specific case study , how the combination of pleasure , pop star- dom , and the ...
Page 23
... suggesting that “ we ” should be grateful that the African tragedy is happening to “ them ” rather than to “ us . ” As a result , the lyr- ics seem to invite a cynical interpretation , particularly when U2's Bono cries out “ well ...
... suggesting that “ we ” should be grateful that the African tragedy is happening to “ them ” rather than to “ us . ” As a result , the lyr- ics seem to invite a cynical interpretation , particularly when U2's Bono cries out “ well ...
Other editions - View all
Fabricating the Absolute Fake: America in Contemporary Pop Culture Jaap Kooijman No preview available - 2013 |
Fabricating the absolute fake: America in contemporary pop culture Jaap Kooijman No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
Absolute Fake Adam Curry African-American Ally McBeal Ameri American Dream American flag American pop culture Amsterdam audience broadcast Bruce Springsteen celebrities close-up Coca-Cola commercial Dixie Chicks Dutch Dutch national Dutch pop culture editors emphasizes episode essay ethnic European Cinema explicit fictional film Frans & Baas genre conventions Gulf Gulf War hip-hop Hollywood hyper-Americanness hyperreality imagined America imagined community Iraq Jarhead Jean Baudrillard karaoke Americanism Katja Lange Frans Lee Towers Linda London Michael Jackson military Moroccan Moroccan-Dutch movie multicultural music video nation-state USA national identity Netherlands Oprah Winfrey Show Patricia Paay patriotism perceived Pim Fortuyn political pop song pop stars pop-cultural artifacts popular present President rapper rhetoric Rob Kroes Routledge Shouf Shouf Habibi singing star image star myth Star-Spangled Banner suggesting Super Bowl performance talk show terrorist Theo van Gogh Three Kings tion translated University Press USA for Africa viewers West Wing white Dutch Whitney Houston World York