Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being a “talking head” on television talking about Hollywood, celebrity culture, and the 2016 Presidential Race.
One of the things I referenced was Daniel Boortsin’s 1962 book The Image, which when I first read it 20-some years ago, seemed very prescient. Nowadays, it seems only more so.
What I was referring to on the program was Boorstin’s observation of the new class of celebrity who was “a person who is known for his well-knownness.” Now, with the technological tools of the 21st century, people can cultivate their “well-knownness” even better. In fact, aren’t we all encouraged to build our personal “brand?”
It doesn’t escape me that this website serves some of that purpose, to say nothing of being a talking head.
In any case, you needn’t order the book anew. I know Vintage books came out with an edition in 2012, so that edition or others may be found in your local public library.
Then you can right a blog post about it — and you too can revel in being meta.