“ Dream Worlds of Consumption” Presentation by Mindy McAdams Tuesday, Week 12

Paris Exposition of 1900 Total admissions, one year: 50.8 million Total population of Europe (1900): 408 million

Total admissions, one year: 50.8 million

Total population of Europe (1900): 408 million

Paris Exposition of 1900 “ The Exposition of 1900 probably was the largest and most ambitious international gathering for any purpose ever. All the great nations tried to offer the pick of their art and industry for the judgment of the millions of visitors. Many of the remotest regions of the world were represented in the colonial exhibits.” – Richard D. Mandell, Paris 1900

Pavilions from various nations at the Paris Exposition of 1900 Source: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Photo: Mindy McAdams, 2006

Exposition Universelle de 1889 Gustave Eiffel’s tower was blasted by public opinion during the two years of its construction Called an “abomination and eyesore” Criticized for its “barbarous mass” looming over the Paris skyline However, it became the most visited attraction at the 1889 fair Source: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Gustave Eiffel’s tower was blasted by public opinion during the two years of its construction

Called an “abomination and eyesore”

Criticized for its “barbarous mass” looming over the Paris skyline

However, it became the most visited attraction at the 1889 fair

Photo: Mindy McAdams, 2006

Photo: Mindy McAdams, 2006

1939 New York World’s Fair

60 governments participated and built pavilions Television was introduced to the U.S. here (by RCA) Officially closed on Oct. 27, 1940 Attracted more than 45 million visitors Most of the facilities were demolished in 1940-41 (no new tenants found for the exhibition buildings)

60 governments participated and built pavilions

Television was introduced to the U.S. here (by RCA)

Officially closed on Oct. 27, 1940

Attracted more than 45 million visitors

Most of the facilities were demolished in 1940-41 (no new tenants found for the exhibition buildings)

Department Stores

The Great Sixth-Avenue Bazaar Opening Day at Macy & Co.’s A Place Where Almost Anything May Be Bought (New York Times headline, 1878 ) The special attraction, according to the article: The “universality of the stock, almost every article of dress and household furniture being for sale there, and at the most reasonable prices.” http:// www.departmentstorehistory.net /

The Magic of Material Culture “Before color movies and color magazines, department stores displayed the good life” Merchandise there had an aura , an allure You could browse, you could aspire to a better life “They showed you how to put it together into [an] ensemble. That was something of a new idea, that you would decorate your house … so that it didn’t clash.” http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/12/25/AM200612258.html

“Before color movies and color magazines, department stores displayed the good life”

Merchandise there had an aura , an allure

You could browse, you could aspire to a better life

“They showed you how to put it together into [an] ensemble. That was something of a new idea, that you would decorate your house … so that it didn’t clash.”

In the Department Stores “... They accompanied merchandise with lectures and displays and demonstrations and fashion shows ... made things seem like more than just a package in cellophane that you take off a hook.” http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/12/25/AM200612258.html – Jan Whitaker, author of Service and Style: How the Department Store Fashioned the Middle Class (2006)

“... They accompanied merchandise with lectures and displays and demonstrations and fashion shows ... made things seem like more than just a package in cellophane that you take off a hook.”

“ Dream Worlds of Consumption” Presentation by Mindy McAdams University of Florida See also Dream Worlds: Mass Consumption in Late Nineteenth Century France, by Rosalind H. Williams (1991)