Tommy Hilfiger's book on US pop culture released

Mumbai, Apr 12 (UNI) ''Iconic America -- A Roller-Coaster Ride Through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture'', a book by fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and advertising pioneer George Lois capturing the pop culture of America was released by US Consul General Micheal Owen here.

The book captures the country's history of pop culture through black and white, and colour photographs. Images range from native Indian shields, Zippo lighters made famous by the GIs during World War II, Hollywood and pop music stars -- Grace Kelly, Marlon Brandon, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, to Roy Orbison who is stylistically represented only by his RayBan Wayfarers.

''Culture is something people choose. Though American culture often receives flak in parts of the world, it has never been forced on people. Now the culture is becoming globalised and other countries are also developing their own icons,'' Mr Owen, a jazz and Bob Dylan fan himself, said at the function yesterday.

Talking to UNI, Mr Owen said fusion of Indian and American culture was already happening especially in the entertainment industry with filmmakers like Mira Nair using American themes and backgrounds for their films. ''A number of theatres in the US are also screening Bollywood movies, while India has an active jazz and classical vocals circuit especially in Mumbai,'' he added.

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