Empty Meeting Grounds: The Tourist Papers

Rating:
Summary: MacCannell, erudite and angry, chronicles postmodern decay
Review: Dean McCannell, an angry academic, takes on the pervasive rot around us in a fascinating collection of essays. The appropriation and conversion of cultural and material goods into commodities is a process that MacCannell calls by its correct name--cannibalism. The historically recent assimilation of all available cultural and material goods into a monolithic system has created a monstrous world order which provides no alternatives to itself. These passionate essays reward many readings. I do not feel I exaggerate when I call this a great and indispensible book.

Rating:
Summary: MacCannell, erudite and angry, chronicles postmodern decay
Review: Dean McCannell, an angry academic, takes on the pervasive rot around us in a fascinating collection of essays. The appropriation and conversion of cultural and material goods into commodities is a process that MacCannell calls by its correct name--cannibalism. The historically recent assimilation of all available cultural and material goods into a monolithic system has created a monstrous world order which provides no alternatives to itself.These passionate essays reward many readings. I do not feel I exaggerate when I call this a great and indispensible book.