Lauren Conrad, Kim Kardashian, Spencer Pratt, Jon and Kate Gosselin. Celebrities? Or just reality TV stars that are on the 10th minute of their 15 minutes of fame?
Americans give individuals the stamp of celebrity stardom for a number of reasons. Among those dubbed worthy of celebrity status, there are record-setting athletes like Tiger Woods and LeBron James, Academy Award winning actors and actresses like Brad Pitt and Kate Winslet, daytime talk show hosts like Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray, and Platinum record sellers like Rascal Flatts and Bon Jovi … and then there are those who have sold their personal lives to various TV networks and become spectacles in the tabloids.
The road to celebrity status isn’t as clear cut as it once was, and as a result, the role of the celebrity in American society has evolved. As it was once an achieved status, acquired by a spectacular performance or above-average talent and charisma, the days of celebrity by merit have long passed. Now, any average person with an interesting – or troubling, depending on how one looks at it – lifestyle and story can rise to fame in a scandalous reality show or high-profile law suit.
The Forbes Celebrity 100 ranks people of celebrity status based on their income for the year, and their TV, Web and press power. Its No. 1 celebrity in the July 2009 issue, Angelina Jolie, earned only one-fifth of what the highest-earning celebrity took in, but graced the cover of dozens of tabloids while headlining countless editions of E! News. Her high-profile relationship with superstar Brad Pitt and rapidly expanding young family carried her to the top of the Celebrity 100 List much quicker than starring in a number of notable films over the past decade.
As far as celebrity ranking goes, Forbes Magazine has high standards, ranking people that do actually possess above-average talent and have had some remarkable achievements to back their celebrity status. These would be considered true A-list stars. But how often do you hear people gossip about celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg or Harrison Ford? Not even close to as often as we hear about the saga of reality TV stars Jon and Kate Goesslin and their messy divorce, or as often as Lindsay Lohan’s most recent breakup with girlfriend Samantha Ronson is splashed across every media outlet possible.
“Celebrity” has evolved from Webster’s definition of “a state of being celebrated,” to a state of being stalked. Modern technology allows for a certain level of celebrity worship and obsession by fans that has escalated the trashier, more chemically dependent stars into the spotlight. You can now keep up with every move they make by subscribing to their Twitter, or if they mess up enough, you can chronicle their daily lives by stringing together paparazzi photos that dominate supermarket magazine stands.
Nonetheless, these people are being paid to appear at clubs and award shows, or even to appear in public doing something crazy. Meanwhile, true celebrities are improving on their talents and creating true works of art, or pushing the boundaries of athleticism, while fans celebrate a successful trip to rehab for a C-list celebrity.
Our culture needs to reclaim the term “celebrity” and use it to honor people of true merit over those of shallow ascents into fame. The word “celebrity” must be used to describe people of Audrey Hepburn’s achievement level, or of Martin Luther King Jr.’s charismatic capabilities – stars that have lasting power and deserve the spotlight, who serve as role models for aspiring actors, actresses, talk show hosts, leaders and athletes. Let’s find a new word for the trashy socialites that can’t step out of the spotlight and ask for more from the mass media that thrusts them into it repetitively. After all, society can only read, watch or hear about so many drug overdoses, sex tape scandals and broken marriages before these events are the norm for our culture, thus destroying the virtues of hard work and success.
Sevigny is a sophomore marketing, accounting and advertising and can be contacted at erika.sevigny@drake.edu.
Well written! Right on target!
Nice job Erika!
Great Job Erika, you are so professional. Good luck on your internship at JD, we are all so proud of you!!!
Study hard!
Right on point Erika! I’m tired of hearing about these idiots that get all the press, but deserve none of it. Maybe the real culprits are the news outlets that only care about selling their newspaper/magazine and thus, bombard the rest of us with this trash. Someone has to say no to it and I like the start you have suggested.
Great job Erika, you are so right, people are considered celebrities that do not deserve the fame, however, I think the news media is at fault for shoving wrong information to the public and by choice the public has fallen morally deprived according to our christian values. It is so sad that society thrives on fame by money or immorality. Love you
Awesome job Erika!! You are so right on this on. Sad reality is that many do see this false fame as the norm. It is young people like you that can make the difference. You keep up the good work! Go Girl! I am so very proud of you!
Great job Erika! Excellent article!!