Daniel J. Boorstin

Daniel J. Boorstin (October 1, 1914 – February 28, 2004), an American historian and writer, was the Librarian of Congress from 1975 until 1987.

Related Topics:
October 1 - 1914 - February 28 - 2004 - American - Librarian of Congress - 1975 - 1987

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Boorstin wrote more than 20 books, including a trilogy on the American experience and one on world intellectual history. The Americans: The Democratic Experience, the final book in the first trilogy, received the 1973 Pulitzer Prize in history. Boorstin also wrote the books The Discoverers and The Creators, a pair of books that attempt to survey the scientific and artistic histories of humanity respectively. He studied at Balliol College, Oxford, was a lawyer and university professor. He also served as director of the National Museum of History and Technology of the Smithsonian Institution.

Related Topics:
1973 - Pulitzer Prize in history - Scientific - Artistic - Balliol College, Oxford - Lawyer - National Museum of History and Technology - Smithsonian Institution

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Within the discipline of social theory, Boorstin?s 1964 book

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' is notable as it is considered by some to be a early, landmark attempt to describe aspects of American life that would later famously be termed hyperreality and postmodernity. In The Image, Boorstin describes shifts in American culture - mainly due to advertising - where the reproduction or simulation of an actual event becomes more important or 'real' than the event itself. He goes on to coin the term pseudo-event which describes events or activities that almost solely exist within the realm of advertisements or other forms of publicity, but largely did not actually occur in in real life. The idea of Pseudo-events closely mirrors work done later by French postmodernists such as Jean Baudrillard and Guy Debord. The work was often used as a text in American sociology courses.

Related Topics:
Hyperreality - Postmodernity - Pseudo-event - Jean Baudrillard - Guy Debord - Sociology

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When President Gerald Ford nominated Boorstin to be Librarian of Congress, the nomination was supported by the Authors League of America but opposed by the American Library Association because Boorstin "was not a library administrator." The Senate confirmed the nomination without debate.

Related Topics:
President - Gerald Ford - Authors League of America - American Library Association - Senate

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During his term as Librarian of Congress, Boorstin established the Center for the Book to encourage reading and literacy. In addition, he spearheaded what became a 10-year project to completely renovate the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, restoring the main building to its original 1897 condition. He became Librarian of Congress Emeritus on August 4, 1987. Boorstin was born in Atlanta, Georgia and died in Washington, D.C.

Related Topics:
Center for the Book - Library of Congress - 1897 - August 4 - 1987 - Atlanta, Georgia - Washington, D.C.

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