Drama of Celebrity

Sharon Marcus' book explores the obsession with fame, challenging the media's power to make or break stars and fans' passive dupes. It traces celebrity culture back to nineteenth-century roots, when people were captivated by celebrity chefs, poets, and actors like Sarah Bernhardt, who became a global superstar through savvy engagement with media and technologies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 25 June 2019
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In this captivating and meticulously researched book, Sharon Marcus takes readers on a thought-provoking journey to challenge the very foundations of our fascination with fame. It delves into the intricate dynamics that shape the narratives surrounding celebrities and their fans, revealing a high-stakes drama that is both endless and unpredictable. Marcus traces the origins of celebrity culture back to its nineteenth-century roots, when people worldwide were captivated by figures such as celebrity chefs, rebellious poets, and iconic actors like the legendary Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923). Bernhardt, known for her unconventional lifestyle and extraordinary talent, achieved global superstardom through strategic engagement with the most innovative media and technologies of her time: the popular press, commercial photography, and rapid modes of travel. Whether one embraces or detests celebrity culture, The Drama of Celebrity offers a transformative perspective that will reshape our understanding of this significant phenomenon of modern times.

Weight: 706g
Dimension: 167 x 243 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691177595