{"product_id":"civilization","title":"Civilization","description":"‘Civilisation’ - a hard term to define. But while every society has a distinctive culture, authentic civilisations must offer those they subjugate an attractive way of life. Their imprint outlasts their imperium.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA century ago, Debray argues, there was a European civilisation of which America was an outlying culture; but today the relationship is reversed. ‘In 1900, an American of taste was a European in exile; in 2000, a trendy European is a frustrated American – or one waiting for a visa’. Characteristic of American civilization is its three overarching fetishes: \u003ci\u003espace\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eimage \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003ehappiness\u003c\/i\u003e. America is a civilization of space and image, whereas Europe was one of time and writing. And its kitsch infantilism blinds itself to the tragic complexities of human life. A measure of America’s success is how its ‘globish’ jargon has so successfully infiltrated European languages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor Debray, the dominance of American civilisation is a historical fait accompli, yet he sees a model for Europe in Vienna after its exclusion from the German Reich. For decades to come, Europe can still offer a rich cultural seedbed. ‘Some will call it decadence, others liberation. Why not both?’","brand":"Verso Books","offers":[{"title":"hardback","offer_id":50191980790037,"sku":"rdd1789928370791","price":18.33,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"ebook (UK)","offer_id":50191980822805,"sku":"elq1789928370792","price":21.29,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"ebook (US)","offer_id":50191980855573,"sku":"akb1789928370793","price":7.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0878\/5349\/8645\/files\/civilization_1.jpg?v=1789928375","url":"https:\/\/zenmatfitk.shop\/products\/civilization","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}