Canada’s “hippest and smartest culture critic” at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

Posted on: 17/11/2010

Canada’s “hippest and smartest culture critic”
at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

Gatineau, Quebec, November 18, 2010 — The Canadian Museum of Civilization invites you to broaden your mind and expand your horizons, on November 25, with a conference by journalist and author Andrew Potter.

The Canadian author examines the paradox of contemporary society, which seeks “authentic” experiences through travel, leisure and pop culture — experiences that often become trends of status-seeking and one-upmanship.

Weaving together threads of pop culture, history and philosophy, Canada’s “hippestand smartest culture critic” reveals the irony in our misguided pursuit of the authentic.What is authentic: organic produce, ecotourism, the cult of Oprah, the political fate ofSarah Palin? Prepare to have your mind changed!

The Authenticity Hoax with Andrew Potter
Thursday, November 25
7 p.m. (in English with simultaneous French translation)
Theatre
Weaving together threads of pop culture, history and philosophy, Canada’s “hippest and smartest culture critic” reveals the irony in our unending pursuit of the “authentic”. Book signing following lecture. $15, $10 for Members, Children, Seniors and Students. Tickets are available at the Museum Box Office or by calling 819 776-7000 (service charges).

Andrew Potter is a Canadian philosopher, author, and magazine columnist. He is best known outside Canada for co-authoring The Rebel Sell with Joseph Heath.

Born in Teulon, Manitoba, Potter attended Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa, before earning a B.A. in Philosophy at McGill University, then M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in philosophy at the University of Toronto. He was also an assistant professor at Trent University for three years. Upon graduation, he did post-doctoral work at the Centre de recherches en éthique at the University of Montreal (CREUM).

He was national news editor for the Ottawa Citizen for nearly three years, and is now a public affairs columnist for Maclean’s, and a features editor for Canadian Business. He has recently moved back to Toronto after living in Ottawa for 25 years.

Media Information:

Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7167

Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: 819 776-7169

Fax: 819 776-7187