Star Struck: An Encyclopedia of Celebrity Culture (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313358128)

This balanced examination looks at America's pervasive celebrity culture, concentrating on the period from 1950 to the present day.

Star Struck: An Encyclopedia of Celebrity Culture is neither a stern critic nor an apologist for celebrity infatuation, a phenomenon that sometimes supplants more weighty matters yet constitutes one of our nation's biggest exports. This encyclopedia covers American celebrity culture from 1950 to 2008, examining its various aspects--and its impact--through 86 entries by 30 expert contributors.

Demonstrating that all celebrities are famous, but not all famous people are celebrities, the book cuts across the various entertainment medias and their legions of individual "stars." It looks at sports celebrities and examines the role of celebrity in more serious pursuits and institutions such as the news media, corporations, politics, the arts, medicine, and the law. Also included are entries devoted to such topics as paranoia and celebrity, one-name celebrities, celebrity nicknames, family unit celebrity, sidekick celebrities, and even criminal celebrities.

Author: Sam Riley
ISBN-10: 0313358125
ISBN-13: 9780313358128
Publisher: Greenwood
Language: English
Published: 12/01/2009
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 2.10lbs
Size: 10.00h x 7.20w x 1.10d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 03/15/2010 pg. 123
Booklist 05/15/2010 pg. 72
Choice 06/01/2010
Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2010 pg. 63