Edited by
James Lyons, July 2004
1-903364-96-5 £16.99 (hbk)
Aimed mainly at students, Selling Seattle documents how this modern city has been defined and exploited in recent years by the mainstream media, from films and television to advertising and corporations. It feels self consciously academic at times, and has copious notes and bibliography at the back, revealing a lack of first hand research, but it is readable nevertheless. Seattle, located in Washington State in the northwest corner of America is looked at within the context of a general North Eastern culture; one of contrasts between the great outdoors and modern urban life with coffee houses and high tech industries like Microsoft. The problem comes when Lyons cites his examples. Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure, both mentioned, are informed by this culture, but they are not set in Seattle. Lyons balances uncomfortably between the general and the specific throughout.
Selling Seattle is subtitled Representing Contemporary Urban America, and this emphasis acts to limit the research that has been put into this book. When American products, from entertainment like the sitcom Frasier to corporate goods like a cup of Starbucks coffee are consumed globally, it is a shame the book doesn't satisfactorily explore their impact and influence. This also applies to cultural phenomena. The 'grunge' musical movement originating in Seattle in the early nineties had a profound effect on the contemporary music scene around the world. And the anti globablisation protests in Seattle were the result of a global movement that had precedents and continues today. Neither of these issues is given enough focus.
Even when concentrating on America there is room in Selling Seattle, by looking at its similarities with other urban centres in greater depth, for Lyons to expand on how Seattle fits into a general model of the modern American city. And with the vision of Seattle that is used to sell products and ideals being one of a conspicuously white America, although Lyons does touch on race, it isn't given nearly the attention this topic deserves. Major films Sleepless In Seattle , Disclosure, Singles are all covered, but the film enthusiast or general reader will find this book of limited interest. It will find its audience with the student exploring contemporary social, cultural, and urban issues, particularly in America.
Gavin Bush
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