Boosterism
From Free net encyclopedia
Boosterism is the act of "boosting" or otherwise promoting one's town, city or organization, with the goal of improving the overall quality of the city or organization, as well as its public perception. This can be as simple as "talking up" the entity at a party, or as elaborate as establishing a visitors' bureau. It is somewhat associated with American small towns. The concept is also employed, to a large extent, in political settings, especially in regards to unpopular or questionable policies and events.
During the expansion of the American and Canadian West, boosterism became epidemic as the leaders and owners of small towns made extravagant predictions for their settlement in the hope of attracting more residents, and not coincidentally inflating real estate prices.
Boosterism is an important theme of the novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. The 1871 humorous speech The Untold Delights of Duluth by U. S. Representative J. Proctor Knott lampooned boosterism.
A booster is also a name for a supporter or fan of a college or its athletic teams who contributes monetarily to the program.
References and External Link
- The Promised Land, by Pierre Berton
- Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
- The Untold Delights of Duluth