Conventional Wisdom (Hardcover)

Arthur Drooker is a respected and well reviewed photographer. Millions of people attend specialty and niche conventions per year around the world, serving as the perfect market for this book. Conventional Wisdom chronicles author-photographer Arthur Drooker's travels to quirky conventions in the United States, including Lincoln presenters, furries, and mermaids, and documents them as unique expressions of community, culture, and connection. Drooker's humorous and insightful text, including intimate interviews with attendees, compliment the stunning photographs he took during his many visits to each convention over a three-year period. From the ballrooms to the vendor rooms to the guest rooms, Drooker's ubiquitous camera captures the essence and exuberance of these annual gatherings. Conventional Wisdom shows that regardless of what they're about, where they're held or who attends them, all conventions satisfy a basic human urge: a longing to belong. The book reveals that at conventions people who share similar interests, even obsessions, come together to bond and to be themselves. The outside world doesn't matter. An attendee Drooker met at the taxidermist convention expressed it best: "This isn't a convention," he said. "It's a family reunion." Includes: Association of Lincoln Presenters; Bronycon; Vent Haven; Santa Celebration; Fetishcon; Military History Fest; World Clown Association; World Taxidermy Championships; Anthrocon; Merfest.