Beckett in popular culture : essays on a postmodern icon

What do Bono, Seinfeld and Apple have in common? Nothing. However, it's the nothing of Samuel Beckett, which is something. Bold and provocative, Beckett's works and even his image are a potent force in modern society. Shoes, marketing, baby names-all fall under his spell. Exploring Beckett's ""art of failure"" as a highly successful marketing scheme, this collection of essays finds him incorporated into virtually all aspects of popular culture-television, popular fiction, movies, tattoos, even sports-in a manner that seemingly defies cataloging. Is it image-making or image-taking? Why is our culture so obsessed with an obscure Irish writer most haven't read? Each essay provides a unique appraisal of Beckett's branding.