Strip Cultures: Finding America in Las Vegas

The authors of this in-depth ethnographical and sociological study, who collectively form “The Project on Vegas,” analyze what makes so-called Sin City tick, surveying “the totality of the Strip’s cultures [and] recognizing that where everyday life is concerned, everything—language, gestures, personal relationships—is part of the same web.” In that spirit, they look at gambling, food, commerce, the wedding industry, the dependence upon water, and much more. One chapter examines Las Vegas through the five senses, looking at “how systemized sound, touch, taste, and smell condition specific modes of orientation to the city and its pleasures.” Another discusses the role of entertainment, spectacle, and showmanship. Some conclusions will come as no surprise—is anyone shocked to discover that casino environments are carefully constructed to maintain control over patrons’ sense of place and time? But the chapter on surveillance and “security aesthetics” is downright chilling. This study may not expose all of Las Vegas’s secrets, but it still feels like someone pulling back the curtain for a peek at the Wizard. 101 photos. (Oct.)