THE TRADITION OF INVENTION: Conceiving Las Vegas

Abstract Praised as the architectural icon of the contemporary world and the emblem of postmodernism, yet damned by its critics as the quintessence of poor taste, Las Vegas is one of the world’s premier destinations. Nevertheless, urban and tourism studies alike struggle to produce a comprehensive analysis of the Las Vegas phenomenon, while frequently underscoring its inauthenticity and artificiality. This article discusses the history and the mindset that contributed to the touristic triumph of a most improbable candidate. Emphasis is upon the gambling mecca’s tradition of invention as opposed to its invention of tradition. The city’s critical massing of simulacra constitutes its own authentic reality. In the world of contemporary tourism, Las Vegas has become more paradigmatic than parasitical.