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Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars
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About This Book
From the preeminent historian of modern comedy comes an expansive history of showbiz and the culture wars There is a common belief that we live in unprecedented times, that people are too sensitive today, that nobody objected to the actions of actors, comedians, and filmmakers in the past. Modern pundits would have us believe that Americans of a previous generation had tougher skin and seldom complained. But does this argument hold up to scrutiny? In Outrageous, celebrated cultural historian Kliph Nesteroff demonstrates that Americans have been objecting to entertainment for nearly two hundred years, sometimes rationally, often irrationally. Likewise, powerful political interests have sought to circumvent the arts using censorship, legal harassment, and outright propaganda. From Mae West through Johnny Carson, Amos 'n' Andy through Beavis and Butt-Head , Outrageous chronicles the controversies of American show business and the ongoing attempts to change what we watch, read, and hear.
Reviews
"esteroff artfully seeks to demonstrate how current catchphrases like 'cancel culture' and 'political correctness' are just variations of the same generational and ideological divides which have undergirded American society throughout Hollywood's history ..."
"Nesteroff argues that outrage against popular culture often comes from a place of religious bigotry, is a generously funded venture, and is usually launched purely out of the desire to exercise political power."
"The parts are better than the whole, but the message is clear: Loosen up and enjoy the show."
"It's just that we're inclined to voice emphatic disapproval about certain forms of speech, which, though disconcerting for the subject of our disapproval, is not at all what we mean by censorship"
"In no-frills prose, Nesteroff races through some two centuries of expression and backlash."
"Still, readers seeking evidence to rebut criticism of today's 'snowflakes' will have plenty to choose from here."
"He's interested in the historical context."
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