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Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom And Modern Fame (2012)

by Ty Burr(Favorite Author)

3.83 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0307377660 (ISBN13: 9780307377661)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Pantheon

review 1: About celebrities, particularly movie stars, and how silent film stars set the template for future stars (often naming modern stars whose "type" is descended from people like Douglas Fairbanks and William S. Hart or drawing unexpected parallels, like between My Super Sweet 16 and Gloria Swanson films). Insightful, with a breezy style, the occasional minor factual errors don't interfere with the major points. It's not clear from his biography, but he must have done his primary research--he's one of the few authors to recognize the central importance of Norma Talmadge and Joe Schenck in 1920s Hollywood and has the best analysis i've seen of her role in popular culture. Personally, one of the most interesting things about the book is reading about modern movies and celebrit... moreies which, with my attention always given to old films, is history that completely escaped my notice. I had no idea of the cultural meaning of Harrison Ford or Bill Murray or that Anne Hathaway was the classy but nice girl of the moment. Not to mention the internet celebrities whose 15 minutes of fame came and went without a ripple on my consciousness.
review 2: Really great book. Ty Burr delivers with this book as it deconstructs and reveals every nuance in our celebrity culture. He touches on key figures that are known the world over and more obscure but nonetheless important names like Florence Lawrence. His use of language is riveting without being overly ornate. This is definitely worth the read and a book I plan to add to my own personal collection. less

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