Herbert I. London

Herbert I. London charges in the subsequent viewpoint that American popular culture is characterized by a perverse obsession with celebrity. London contends that society grants celebrity status to people who engage in abhorrent behavior, and lavishes these celebrities with media attention while ignoring events of world significance. The American fascination with the vulgar and scandalous has created a culture that exalts obscene language, sexual lasciviousness, and lurid representations of violence, he claims. London is a professor of humanities at New York University and the publisher of American Outlook magazine. He is the author of a number of books, including From the Empire State to the Vampire State: New York in a Downward Transition.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What is the difference between “fame” and “infamy,” as stated by the...