Empire Of Illusion: The End Of Literacy And The Triumph Of Spectacle

Throughout Empire of Illusion, Hedges criticizes American citizens for worshipping celebrities as religious figures: “We all have gods, Martin Luther said, it is just a question of which ones. And in American society our gods are celebrities” (17). Hedges describes how celebrity-worshippers flock to the graves of famous people just like pilgrims visiting a sacred site; he also points out that certain individuals will seek out items that have been worn, used, or touched by celebrities as though these items are religious relics.

The effects of celebrity-worship are far-reaching and negative. As Hedges explains, “Celebrity culture has taught us to generate, almost unconsciously, interior personal screenplays in the mold of Hollywood, television, and even commercials” (16); these internal screenplays encourage such individuals carry themselves as though a camera is always present. These behaviors can encourage superficiality and selfishness in people susceptible to valuing appearances over personality or moral substance. In addition, celebrity-worship distances people from reality and from their immediate surroundings. The popularity of trivial celebrity gossip illustrates the ease with which many Americans can avoid the complex issues and challenges America faces as a society.

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of celebrity culture, however, is the fact that the American fascination with celebrities “plunges us into a moral void” (32). Hedges is highly critical of celebrity culture and those who worship it as they would a religion because values such as wealth and fame are essentially empty and illusory. The pursuit of such values, and even the achievement of them, often comes at the expense of substance and moral worth.

As the title of the book suggests, Hedges identifies many illusions that Americans take for reality. For example, Americans prefer celebrity culture over books, and pornography over genuine connection with other human beings. At elite higher education institutions, American students learn to uphold and manage corporate structures, rather than think critically about those structures. Even the practice of positive psychology reflects fluency only in techniques of self-deception. In each of these cases, Hedges aims to distinguish between what is real and what is an illusion.

According to Hedges, the consequences of being unable to differentiate between what is real and what is fantasy are grave. Without a genuine understanding of the challenges that face Americans, overcoming those challenges is impossible; without the ability to identify real problems and real solutions, voters are more likely to elect dangerous demagogues. One of the chief aims of Empire of Illusion as a whole, and of each chapter individually, is to help readers distinguish reality from the falsehoods perpetuated by corporations.