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A review by ccurls
America by Jean Baudrillard
5.0
It only feels appropriate to recommend this book to specific people. Highly recommend it to someone who is slightly familiar, it but wants a great introduction to Baudrillard. This book comfortably teeters between theory, poetry and cultural critique. There are dozens of great quotes, and Baudrillard is much more comfortable and playful with his writing here. He doesn't feel concerned with producing a groundbreaking piece of theory but rather crafting his thoughts on the American way of life into a palpable, potent introspection of culture and such.
On the other hand, if you have stumbled upon this book and know nothing about Baudrillard, post-modernism or French theory, I can only recommend this book if you have the time to familiarize yourself with Baudrillard. Otherwise, the creative analysis, the sarcastic cynicism and political/cultural critique will just come off as self-indulgent, pretentious and overly complicated (a complaint postmodernists have heard since the beginning).
P.S. If you despise and resent America (for whatever reason). I still highly recommend this book. Despite the time it may take to process someone like Baudrillard, the pay off is extremely rewarding.
READ!!!
On the other hand, if you have stumbled upon this book and know nothing about Baudrillard, post-modernism or French theory, I can only recommend this book if you have the time to familiarize yourself with Baudrillard. Otherwise, the creative analysis, the sarcastic cynicism and political/cultural critique will just come off as self-indulgent, pretentious and overly complicated (a complaint postmodernists have heard since the beginning).
P.S. If you despise and resent America (for whatever reason). I still highly recommend this book. Despite the time it may take to process someone like Baudrillard, the pay off is extremely rewarding.
READ!!!