This book explores, from a sociological perspective, the relationship between acting as symbolic work and the commercialization of popular culture. Particular attention is paid to the social conditions that gave rise to stardom in the theatre and cinema, and how shifts in the marketing of stars have impacted upon contemporary celebrity culture.List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Introduction 1. From Custom to Price 2. The Formation of Stardom 3. Garrick as a Personage 4. The Descent from Stardom as Personage 5. Writing the Stars 6. The High Tide of Biography 7. The Rise of Autography 8. The End of Seeming Notes IndexBarry King is Professor of Communications at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.