View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who publishes Superman Comics?

2. Eco asserts that terrorism gives what a reason to exist?

3. Eco proposes that tourists at Disney must have a certain passivity and behave as what in order to enjoy themselves?

4. Eco proposes that all use of hyper reality is an attempt to create a monument or a permanent structure that will allow for what?

5. Marshall McLuhan states that the constant barrage of information leads to what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Eco write of the authenticity of the Ringling Museum of Art? Where is it located?

2. Why does Eco refute the argument of the media in "The Sacred is Not Just a Fashion"?

3. How is nature a victim of hyper reality to Eco? How is religion?

4. In what way does Eco use Superman as an analogy in Section I - Chapter 1? What is a "Fortress of Solitude"?

5. What conclusions does Eco present in "Culture as a Show Business"?

6. What "ideologies of progress" does Eco describe in "The Sacred is Not Just a Fashion"?

7. What categories does God fall into, according to Eco?

8. How is American culture today unlike the Middle Ages, according to Eco?

9. What are examples of hyper reality in America cited by Eco in Section I - Chapter 1?

10. What does Eco write of American realism in Section I - Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss American zoos, aquariums and religious monuments. How do these fall into the category of hyper reality in Eco's vision?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the original 2001: A Space Odyssey and imitations of the original and discuss the impact of imitation. How does this reflect the concept of postmodernism?

Essay Topic 3

Describe how holography has influenced American culture and our perceptions of reality. How is holography an extension of photorealism? How have these formats evolved since the book was written?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 910 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample