ABSTRACT
This is a chapter devoted to the city as spectacle and to the City of Los Angeles as our model. If nothing else, the modern city is a spectacle, with L.A. being one of the most spectacular cities in the world. Here I cast a wide net over the concept of the spectacle, including the presence of Hollywood and the glamour of show business, but also the spectacle of the bizarre murders that have been committed in the City of Angels. More mundane matters are also included, including the spectacularly varied topography of Los Angeles, where it’s possible to ski and surf in the same day, and the banal lives of “the folks,” those Los Angeles residents who are anonymous and presented as mere background material in front of which the movie stars lead their glittering lives. The ever-present possibility of spectacular earthquakes is included as well, as they also hover in the background of those who lead their lives in this city. Finally, everyday actions are included under this schema, for things such as the brushing of hair and walking down a sidewalk are also spectacular from a certain point of view. Writers included in this survey are Charles Bukowski, James Ellroy, Raymond Chandler, and Nathaniel West.
