Presenting the 'window on the world' to the world. Competing narratives of the presentation of television at the world's fairs in paris (1937) and new york (1939).

The article examines and contrasts differing conceptions of the social significance of the development of television. The observations are taken from the 1937 Paris, France, World's Fair and the 1939 World's Fair held in New York City. Both events took place well before the widespread use of the medium. The introduction of television technology and broadcasting at the Paris event was the province of the French and German exhibits. The latter were controlled by the Nazis, but both were state-sponsored, official displays. The American event emphasized the technological innovation of the process and in contrast to the governmental nature of European television, U.S. broadcasting was aimed at private enterprise and consumerism.