Fads, Fashions and Cults (Hardcover)

What is the story behind the Hula Hoop? Where did the Angry Young Men and the Beautiful People come from - and where did they go? How old is the New Age? Or for that matter the much-touted New Man? Through hundreds of entries and telling quotations, this book explores the fascinating succession of crazes, vogues and trends that have shaped post-war society.;Entries on music, architecture and design combine with philosophy, politics and popular culture. Within this diverse range, readers can trace the origins and development of trends from break dancing to feminism, from the New Look to Post-Modernism. Through a comprehensive network of cross-references, Tony Thorne sets fads and fashions in their proper context, and points to their wider significance.;Tony Thorne is the author of the "Bloomsbury Dictionary of Contemporary Slang". He has lectured and broadcast worldwide on issues of language and culture. He has published a number of books and contributed to best-selling dictionaries. He currently teaches at King's College, University of London.