This article explores the prevalence of celebrity and spectacle as a major component of the conspiracy culture that permeates much of today's media, and it explores how the penchant for the media for such sensational stories as the death of Princess Diana and the JFK Jr. tragedy was reflected in the postelection spectacle of the 2000 presidential election.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Boorstin, D. (1961). The image: A guide to pseudo events in America. New York: Athenueum.
2.
Dann, S. , & Dann, S. (2001). Ethics of using princess Diana's image in seatbelt campaigns. Media Ethics, 12(2), 9, 25-26.
3.
Edelman, M. J. (1988). Constructing the political spectacle. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
4.
Justice? Who cares when ratings rule: Opportunities in media and insight on the O. J. Simpson case. (1996, March). Forum at the Irma S. Mann Strategic Marketing Lecture Series, Boston.
5.
Payne, J. G. (1998). Diana, the press and the public. One year Later. Media Ethics, 10(2), 5.
6.
Payne, J. G. (1999a). America's prince and the queen of hearts: The mediated grieving ritual. Media Ethics, 11(1), 7, 16.
7.
Payne, J. G. (1999b, November). The mediated reality of the JFK, Jr. Tragedy. Conference at the Center for Ethics in Political and Health Communication, Boston. Proceedings in press.
8.
Payne, J. G. (1999c). The selling of princess Monica. Media Ethics, 10(2), 5.
9.
Payne, J. G. (Ed.). (2000a, October). Celebrity and spectacle: The making of a media event. Conference at the Center for Ethics in Political and Health Communication, Boston. Proceedings in press.
10.
Payne, J. G. (2000b). Celebrity, spectacle, and Elian. Media Ethics, 11,(2), 2, 23-24.
11.
Payne, J. G. (2001a). Another lap around the celebrity/spectacle track: The Dale Earnhardt. Media Ethics, 12(2), 8, 28.
12.
Payne, J. G. (2001b). Surviving the conventions' spectacle. Media Ethics, 12(2), 6, 20.
13.
Real, M. R. (1999, February). Morning Diana: Religious functions of media rituals. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Religious Functions of Television, Heidelberg, Germany.
14.
Riesman, D. (1969). The lonely crowd: A study of the changing American character. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
15.
Scannell, P. (1999). The death of Diana and the meaning of media events. Paper presented at the Public Sphere and Communication Policy conference, Tokyo.
16.
25th year Kent State-Jackson State retrospective. (1995, April). Forum at the Helen C. Rose and the Center for Ethics in Political and Health Communication, Boston.
