Mythomania : Tales of Our Times, From Apple to Isis

1 Sky Signs -- 2 A Newer Testament -- Apple's Apple -- Devilled Chicken -- A Neon Covenant -- On Sacred Ground -- Babel-on-Thames -- Writing on Walls -- The Mind of God? -- 3 In The Pantheon -- An Alien from Windsor -- Air Force One × 2 -- Judy and Justitia -- Narcissus on a Stick -- Khaos Theory -- Daemon Dogs -4 Forms And Their Content -- A Viral Dessert -- Utterly Oyster -- Nooks and Kobos -- Vaping -- A Mirage --5 The Human Thing -- In the Dino Gym -- Vamping -- An Electronic Odalisque -- An Alien from Mars -- Incredibility -- An Android -- The Zombie Plane -- Bergs and Gyres -- Almost There! -- 6 Wars In Heaven.;Despite our culture's proclaimed respect for scientific reason, we are no less bedazzled and bedevilled by myth than our remote ancestors. Roland Barthes first examined the mythical resonances of consumer products in the 1950s. Far from being demystified, consumerism has since morphed into a universal religion, its compulsory ritual of shopping essential to our economic survival. Myth has also invaded the political realm, as terrorists brandish black flags and recite theological mantras as they martyr themselves. Peter Conrad's exhilarating book exposes the absurdity and occasional insanity of our godforsaken, demon-haunted contemporary culture. Conrad casts his brilliant beam upon subjects from the Queen to the Kardashians, via Banksy, Nando's, vaping, the vogue of the cronut, the mushroom-like rise of Dubai, the launch of the Large Hadron Collider, the growth of the Pacific garbage patch ... In Judge Judy, he shows us a matronly Roman goddess dispensing justice with a fly swatter. In the metamorphosis of Caitlyn Jenner from Olympic athlete and paterfamilias into idealized female form, he sees parallels to the deeds of the residents of Mount Olympus themselves. Finally, after surveying advances in biomedical engineering and artificial intelligence, he asks whether we might be on the brink of a post-human world. -- Provided by publisher.;60 years after Roland Barthes explored the mythological underpinnings of 1950s consumerism in his seminal book 'Mythologies', our greatest cultural critic, Peter Conrad, takes up the challenge and examines the enduring place of myth in the 21st century. From the Queen to Caitlyn Jenner, from Judge Judy to Steven Jobs, Conrad scrutinises modern-day popular culture in his formidably astute but always entertaining style. The book is based on the BBC Radio 4 series '21st Century Mythologies'. -- Provided by publisher. 60 Years After Roland Barthes Explored The Mythological Underpinnings Of 1950s Consumerism In His Seminal Book 'mythologies', Our Greatest Cultural Critic, Peter Conrad, Takes Up The Challenge And Examines The Enduring Place Of Myth In The 21st Century. From The Queen To Caitlyn Jenner, From Judge Judy To Steven Jobs, Conrad Scrutinises Modern-day Popular Culture In His Formidably Astute But Always Entertaining Style. The Book Is Based On The Bbc Radio 4 Series '21st Century Mythologies'. -- Provided By Publisher. Despite Our Culture's Proclaimed Respect For Scientific Reason, We Are No Less Bedazzled And Bedevilled By Myth Than Our Remote Ancestors. Roland Barthes First Examined The Mythical Resonances Of Consumer Products In The 1950s. Far From Being Demystified, Consumerism Has Since Morphed Into A Universal Religion, Its Compulsory Ritual Of Shopping Essential To Our Economic Survival. Myth Has Also Invaded The Political Realm, As Terrorists Brandish Black Flags And Recite Theological Mantras As They Martyr Themselves. Peter Conrad's Exhilarating Book Exposes The Absurdity And Occasional Insanity Of Our Godforsaken, Demon-haunted Contemporary Culture. Conrad Casts His Brilliant Beam Upon Subjects From The Queen To The Kardashians, Via Banksy, Nando's, Vaping, The Vogue Of The Cronut, The Mushroom-like Rise Of Dubai, The Launch Of The Large Hadron Collider, The Growth Of The Pacific Garbage Patch ... In Judge Judy, He Shows Us A Matronly Roman Goddess Dispensing Justice With A Fly Swatter. In The Metamorphosis Of Caitlyn Jenner From Olympic Athlete And Paterfamilias Into Idealized Female Form, He Sees Parallels To The Deeds Of The Residents Of Mount Olympus Themselves. Finally, After Surveying Advances In Biomedical Engineering And Artificial Intelligence, He Asks Whether We Might Be On The Brink Of A Post-human World. -- Provided By Publisher. 1 Sky Signs -- 2 A Newer Testament -- Apple's Apple -- Devilled Chicken -- A Neon Covenant -- On Sacred Ground -- Babel-on-thames -- Writing On Walls -- The Mind Of God? -- 3 In The Pantheon -- An Alien From Windsor -- Air Force One × 2 -- Judy And Justitia -- Narcissus On A Stick -- Khaos Theory -- Daemon Dogs -4 Forms And Their Content -- A Viral Dessert -- Utterly Oyster -- Nooks And Kobos -- Vaping -- A Mirage --5 The Human Thing -- In The Dino Gym -- Vamping -- An Electronic Odalisque -- An Alien From Mars -- Incredibility -- An Android -- The Zombie Plane -- Bergs And Gyres -- Almost There! -- 6 Wars In Heaven. Peter Conrad. Despite our cultures proclaimed respect for scientific reason, we live in a society that is no less bedazzled-and bedevilled-by myth than those of our remote ancestors. Roland Barthes first examined the mythical resonances of consumer products in the 1950s. Far from being demystified, consumerism has since morphed into a universal religion, its compulsory ritual of shopping essential to our economic survival. Myth has also invaded the political realm, as terrorists brandish black flags and recite theological mantras as they martyr themselves. Peter Conrads exhilarating book exposes the absurdity and occasional insanity of our godforsaken, demon-haunted contemporary culture. Conrad casts his brilliant beam upon subjects from The Queen to the Kardashians, via Banksy, Nandos, vaping, the vogue of the cronut, the mushroom-like rise of Dubai, the launch of the Large Hadron Collider, the growth of the Pacific garbage patch... In Judge Judy, he shows us a matronly Roman goddess dispensing justice with a fly swatter. In the metamorphosis of Caitlyn Jenner from Olympic athlete and paterfamilias into idealized female form, he sees parallels to the deeds of the residents of Mount Olympus themselves. Finally, after surveying advances in biomedical engineering and artificial intelligence, he asks whether we might be on the brink of a post-human world. Weaves ancient myth into modern celebrity and consumerist culture to expose the absurdity and occasional insanity of twenty-first-century society, economy, and politics Despite a proclaimed respect for scientific reason, humans are still as intrigued by myth as their remote ancestors. Laptops and smartphones are sold under a logo that invokes the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden; skimpily clad classical nymphs cavort in TV reality shows; Narcissus makes a comeback whenever we snap a selfie. Mythical creatures such as handsome vampires abound in best-selling novels. Myth has also invaded the political realm, now that terrorists brandish black flags and recite theological mantras as they martyr themselves. In twenty-seven self-contained entries, Conrad illuminates in his own remarkable way subjects from the British Queen to the Kardashians, via Banksy, vaping, and the inception of the Large Hadron Collider. In Judge Judy, he shows a matronly Roman goddess dispensing justice with a fly swatter. In the metamorphosis of Caitlyn Jenner from Olympic athlete and paterfamilias into idealized female form, he finds parallels to the transformations of the residents of Mount Olympus. Myths used to tell us where we came from. Now, alarmed but also elated by the pace of change in our society, we need them to tell us where we are going. 1. Sky Signs. 2. A Newer Testament. Apple's Apple Devilled Chicken A Neon Covenant On Sacred Ground Babel-on-Thames Writing on Walls The Mind of God? 3. In The Pantheon. An Alien from Windsor Air Force One x 2 Judy and Justitia Narcissus on a Stick Khaos Theory Daemon Dogs 4. Forms And Their Content. A Viral Dessert Utterly Oyster Nooks and Kobos Vaping A Mirage 5. The Human Thing. In the Dino Gym Vamping An Electronic Odalisque An Alien from Mars Incredibility An Android The Zombie Plane Bergs and Gyres Almost There! 6. Wars In Heaven.