This book explores a world where the boundaries between reality and representation have become blurred, a world where fictional dramas on TV are used as teaching aids, or where a company promotes itself by advertising an imaginary product. Drawing on examples from around the globe, Nick Perry presents a fascinating and at times highly entertaining analysis of both familiar objects and situations as well as the more unusual and absurd. Meals served in British pubs, motor-cycle gangs in downtown Tokyo, Australian movies, American corporate whistle blowing and the drama series 'LA Law' are just some examples used by the author in his engaging survey of the many contemporary manifestations of modern sense of the 'unreal'. Hyperrealities also engages with well known theorists of contemporary culture, from Baudrillard and Umberto Eco to Jameson and Sartre. It will therefore be essential reading for students, both those involved in media and cultural studies as well as sociology and social theory.