Pseudo-event

A pseudo-event is an event or activity that exists for the sole purpose of garnering media publicity and serves little to no other function in real life. Since nothing meaningful actually occurs at the event itself, pseudo-events are considered ?real? only after they are viewed through news, advertisements, television, or other types of media.

Related Topics:
News - Advertisements - Television - Media

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An extremely simple example is sitting for a family portrait: the event serves no purpose other than to be viewed through a photograph. Other examples include press conferences, advertisements, media spectacles, and many types of news.

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The term was coined by the theorist and historian Daniel J. Boorstin in his 1964 book ????. The term is closely related to idea of hyperreality and thus postmodernism, although Boorstin?s coinage severely predates the latter two ideas and the related work of postmodern thinkers such as Jean Baudrillard.

Related Topics:
Theorist - Historian - Daniel J. Boorstin - Hyperreality - Postmodernism - Jean Baudrillard

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