|
Dick goes into this in some detail in "The Man in the High Castle". I don't think he understands it either but he gives clear examples of the behavior: > 'All afternoon assorted officials examined the alternatives,' Mr. Tagomi said. 'This is most
authentic of dying old U.S. culture, a rare retained artifact carrying flavor of bygone halcyon day.' > Mr. Baynes opened the box. In it lay a Mickey Mouse wristwatch on a pad of black velvet. > Was Mr. Tagomi playing a joke on him? He raised his eyes, saw Mr. Tagomi's tense, concerned
face. No, it was not a joke. 'Thank you very much,' Baynes said. 'This is indeed incredible.' > 'Only few, perhaps ten, authentic 1938 Mickey Mouse watches in all world today,' Mr. Tagomi
said, studying him, drinking in his reaction, his appreciation. 'No collector known to me has one,
sir.' Of course in his story something else is happening too: > In fact, as far as he knew, it had never occurred to them to ask themselves if the so-called historic art objects for sale in West Coast shops were genuine. Perhaps someday they would . . . and then the bubble would burst, the market would collapse even for the authentic pieces. A Gresham's Law: the fakes would undermine the value of the real. And that no doubt was the motive for the failure to investigate; after all, everyone was happy. The factories, here and there in the various cities, which turned out the-pieces, they made their profits. The wholesalers passed them on, and the dealers displayed and advertised them. The collectors shelled out their money and carried their purchases happily home, to impress their associates, friends, and mistresses. |