Le Tour du Monde: Towards an Anthropology of the Global Mega‐event

This paper explores some of the ethnographic possibilities offered by the engagement of anthropologists in significant realms of global popular culture. It takes as its point of departure the increasing presence of mega‐events on the landscape of contemporary social life. Specifically, the paper argues that mega‐events, here exemplified by the Tour de France, offer privileged points of entry into the ways local populations are drawn into the production of global culture. By detailing several of the ethnographic properties of the Tour de France, this paper highlights the special contribution anthropology can bring to analysing the more spectacular dimensions of postmodern popular culture.