Bug: The Strange Mutations of the World's Most Famous Automobile
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.37 (696 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0743202422 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-11-08 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
8 pages of b&w photos Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. After chronicling the minutia of American life in Made in USA: The Secret Histories of the Things That Made America, Patton turns his sharp-eyed gaze to the VW Beetle's improbable journey from Third Reich dream to Disney's cute Herbie the Love Bug to Silicon Valley status symbol. From Publishers Weekly The Volkswagon Bug-so named for its outline, its droning engine and its "insectlike ubiquitousness"-is no simple car, argues Patton in this entertaining history: it is "a shape, a set of ideas-and a selfish meme" (the term zoologist Richard Dawkins coined to describe the cultural equivalent of a selfish gene). . Pulling material from obscure books, films and songs, he shows how the story of the Bug is essentially the postmodern dream of the West in the 20th century. Today's Bug, Patton argues, is a synthesis of such unrelated events as Ford's assembly line, Hitler's attempted conquest
And in 1998, executives from Germany unveiled the New Beetle, whose only assembly plant is in Mexico. The in-depth history of a mass produced, affordable car that began in 1930's Germany and took over the world to became an icon The BUG story is of Nazi propaganda, brilliant innovations in automotive design, and of its strange and startling transformations into cultural icons as varied as Ken Kesey's magic bus, 'Herbie' in Disney's The Love Bug, and Charlie Manson's dune buggyThe Volkswagen was a project dear to Adolph Hitler's heart, and in his first public appearance as Chancellor, he promised a 'real car for the German people', a mass-produced car that would be as affordable as a motorcycle. But after the war, the Bug moved beyond Germany with a revolutionary advertising campaign and a huge potential market, becoming a phenomenal success. Patton shows how a whole new strategy was devised for the company - selling cars is show business.. Phil Patton tells the fascinating story of how the Bug was designed and developed in the 1930s by the legendary German automotive designer
Brian said Excellent cultural history. I disagree with other reviewers who seemed most appalled with Patton's willingness to connect the Beetle with Hitler. Patton does acknowledge that the idea of a "people's car" had roots that preceded Hitler. But Hitler pushed the concept as part of his plan for economic power in Germany. This fact does not give Hitler "credit" for something wonderful and magical. It's just a car, folks. To suggest (or, as Beetle fans often do, insist) that Hilter had nothing to do with it is simply naive. J. F Malysiak said Author Desperately ISO Editor. Whether or not Phil Patton's latest is factually accurate or merely revisionist sensationalism, the first half of this overly long "history" of the VW Beetle makes for an entertaining enough read. But past World War Two and Hitler's interest in developing the ultimate people's car, the narrative loses focus and seems to lose its way amid references to Charles Manson, Mickey Mouse, Nike Town, and a host of other pop culture items. I almost got the feeling that the author wasn't quite sure. Author Desperately ISO Editor Whether or not Phil Patton's latest is factually accurate or merely revisionist sensationalism, the first half of this overly long "history" of the VW Beetle makes for an entertaining enough read. But past World War Two and Hitler's interest in developing the ultimate people's car, the narrative loses focus and seems to lose its way amid references to Charles Manson, Mickey Mouse, Nike Town, and a host of other pop culture items. I almost got the feeling that the author wasn't quite sure