Pranksters: Making Mischief in the Modern World
by Kembrew McLeod
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Description
From BenjaminFranklin's newspaper hoax that faked the death of his rival to Abbie Hoffman’sattempt to levitate the Pentagon, pranksters, hoaxers, and con artists have causedconfusion, disorder, and laughter in Western society for centuries. Profilingthe most notorious mischief makers from the 1600s to the present day, Prankstersexplores how “pranks” are part of a long tradition of speaking truth to powerand social critique.Invoking such historical and contemporary figures as P.T. show more Barnum,Jonathan Swift, WITCH, The Yes Men, and Stephen Colbert, Kembrew McLeod showshow staged spectacles that balance the serious and humorous can spark importantpublic conversations. In some instances, tricksters have incited social change(and unfortunate prank blowback) by manipulating various forms of media, fromnewspapers to YouTube. For example, in the 1960s, self-proclaimed “professionalhoaxer” Alan Abel lampooned America’s hypocritical sexual mores by usingconservative rhetoric to fool the news media into covering a satirical organizationthat advocated clothing naked animals. In the 1990s, Sub Pop Recordsthen-receptionist Megan Jasper satirized the commodification of alternativemusic culture by pranking the New YorkTimes into reporting on her fake lexicon of “grunge speak.” Throughout thisbook, McLeod shows how pranks interrupt the daily flow of approved informationand news, using humor to underscore larger, pointed truths.Written in an accessible, story-driven style, Prankstersreveals how mischief makers have left their shocking, entertaining, andeducational mark on modern political and social life. show lessTags
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I liked the chapters where the author shared his own experiences with pranking and hoaxing more than the rest of the book, but it does give a solid overview of how a few famous subjects of conspiracy theories inspired rumours and whispers about the organizations named.
Although the title says “Pranks” McLeod focuses on all manner of trickery. From Ben Franklin’s Poor Richards Almanack to legendary showman P.T. Barnum, to modern tricksters like the Yes Men. It is nice that McLeod lets the reader determine whether or not the pranks were effective.
Free review copy.
Free review copy.
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Author Information
11 Works 397 Members
Kembrew McLeod is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa. Peter Dicola is Assistant Professor at Northwestern University School of Law.
Some Editions
Common Knowledge
- Dedication
- For Alasdair Nugent-McLeod,
my number-one mischief maker;
long may you rock. - First words
- American wit and wisdom began with some mass-mediated mischief.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)His legacy reminds us that we need to develop more critical habits of mind, so that next time - hopefully - we won't get fooled again.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Sociology, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 001.9 — Computer science, information & general works Computer science, knowledge & systems Knowledge and learning in general Controversial knowledge (aliens, Atlantis, Bigfoot, Bermuda triangle, Nessie, UFOs, superstitions)
- LCC
- PN6231 .P67 .M35 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Collections of general literature Wit and humor
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 47
- Popularity
- 634,262
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.25)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
