The World in a Selfie

Name: The World in a Selfie
Brand: Allen & Unwin
SKU: 9781788731072
Price: 42.99 NZD
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An Inquiry into the Tourist Age

By Marco d'Eramo

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3.8

( 242 ratings, 31 reviews)

Summary

The World in a Selfie explores the cultural phenomenon of tourism, analysing how this dominant industry reshapes cities and economies while reflecting the modern quest for authenticity in a world of artificial pleasures. Marco d'Eramo traces the evolution of travel from the grand tours of historical figures like Francis Bacon and Mark Twain to contemporary mass tourism and the impact of heritage site commercialization, challenging perceptions of the tourist experience and the meaning behind the ubiquitous tourist selfie.
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Format: Hardback

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The World in a Selfie

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in cultural studies, modern history, sociology, and those curious about the deeper implications of contemporary tourism and travel behaviour.

A spirited critique of the cultural politics of sightseeing. Or, why we are all tourists who hate tourists

A spirited critique of the cultural politics of sightseeing. Or, why we are all tourists who hate tourists

Description

We’ve all been tourists at some point in our lives. How is it we look so condescendingly at people taking selfies in front of the Tower of Pisa? Is there really much to distinguish the package holiday from hipster city-breaks to Berlin or Brooklyn? Why do we engage our free time in an activity we profess to despise?

The World in a Selfie dissects a global cultural phenomenon. For Marco D’Eramo, tourism is not just the most important industry of the century, generating huge waves of people and capital, calling forth a dedicated infrastructure, and upsetting and repurposing the architecture and topography of our cities. It also encapsulates the problem of modernity: the search for authenticity in a world of ersatz pleasures.

D’Eramo retraces the grand tours of the first globetrotters – from Francis Bacon and Samuel Johnson to Arthur de Gobineau and Mark Twain – before assessing the cultural meaning of the beach holiday and the ‘UNESCO-cide’ of major heritage sites. The tourist selfie will never look the same again.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A sophisticated and engaging book praised for its intelligence, wit, and provocative insights. Reviews highlight its clever analysis of tourism's history and cultural significance, mixing academic rigor with entertaining storytelling. Critics commend d'Eramo for unsettling commonly held certainties and deftly deconstructing the politics of sightseeing, offering a fresh perspective on the search for authenticity in modern travel.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788731072

Publisher: Verso Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 16 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verso Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 458g

Pages: 288

Collections

Education & Reference Marco d'Eramo Non-Fiction Science & Nature

About the Author

Marco D’Eramo is an Italian journalist and social theorist. He worked at the newspaper il manifesto for over thirty years. He writes for New Left Review, MicroMega and the Berlin daily Die Tageszeitung. His books include The Pig and the Skyscraper, which has been translated into several languages.