Quiz #1, As Promised

Greetings:

Here it is - the first quiz. The instructions are (unlike my blogging instructions) pretty straightforward: First, make sure you've completed all of the readings; you may refer to Braudy and the handouts as you craft your answers.

Of the following six questions, answer five in about a paragraph; if you write more than that, I'll be forced to entertain you with my Dr. Scratch n' Sniff impression (he was the psychotherapist in The Animaniacs).

Please, please, please number your responses. Email your responses to rcbsam@comcast.net by Monday, May 7 at 6 p.m.

Here goes:

1. We talked in class about the various "spheres" of fame. Why is "sphere" a better term than "level" or "type?" Would another term be even better - more descriptive?

2. Why do some folks believe that fame has become vulgar?

3. What mass media related developments in the 19th and 20th centuries accelerated our desire to "author ourselves," and to become quite adept at self-promotion?

4. Why does former President Clinton's drive to sustain his legacy remind folks (or me, at least) about how Alexander the Great approached fame?

5. What mistake did Charles Lindbergh make once it became clear that the world was becoming obsessed with his private life after he crossed the Atlantic Ocean?

6. Boorstin argued that there was a point where the world stopped producing enough "real" news to fill up newspapers, and later TV news broadcasts, and that journalists began covering "pseudo-events" to fill the gap. Briefly define the term "pseudo-event," and tell me what you believe are the pitfalls of the journalist's reliance on them.

SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: Where did I go to high school? Can you name at least one famous alumnus of that high school? And finally, why does it matter that famous people went to my high school?

That's it - good luck and happy motoring. See you Tuesday.