Celebrity culture
So first things first, an apology for not having updated for so long. Blame can go to the joys of a family Christmas and the ever approaching exams!
Right, all thanks to people who have commented, I've replied to you in the relevant entries' comments.
I'm having a slight change of pace today and am partly going to talk about the Celebrity Big Brother scandal. I'm aware I'm marginally out of date, but at least we get the benefit of hindsight! For those of you who don't live or follow news in the UK, Wikipedia has a fair overview of the story.
As I'm sure you can guess, I do not watch the show. I find it a distinctly repellent concept and scarily Orwellian. If anyone is interested, I watch two or three shows a week: Have I Got News For You?, Mock the Week and QI. Everything else I watch on DVD, I'm obsessed with House, The Gilmore Girls and Monk. But anyway, all this is by the by, let's get down to the main purpose of this entry.
I think we can all agree that the *ahem* delightful Jade Goody was out of order and did mean harm in her comments. I decline to pass judgement on whether she did actually mean them in a racist way. There is one thing inordinately hopeful about this whole ridiculous debacle. Over 45,000 people complained to Ofcom, the media regulator. In our fairly apathetic society, over most issues, few people complain, but the comments passed by Ms Goody and other housemates caused a massive deluge of objections. At least there are some things our society cares about.
I find Jade Goody more than slightly repellent, it astounds and, frankly appals me that someone who, throughout their "career" has displayed such crudeness, vulgarity, and, let's face it, immense ignorance, has amassed a fortune of £8m and was voted the 25th most influential person in the world (according to a poll taken by Heat). It can't just be me who this terrifies. What does it say about the state of our society today that someone as ignorant as Ms Goody is as admired as she is? In fact, it is fairly indicative of the current culture in the UK that she should be admired. Education continues to count for less, respect for teachers continues to fall and the new plans for a "flexible curriculum" sound like they are designed to teach less but sound better. Also, what else can you expect for a country where more magazines documenting the ups and, better, the downs of celebrities are sold than anywhere else in the world (relative to the size of its population). When did it become a stigma to be well spoken, educated and polite? It is interesting that when Celebrity Big Brother placed a wealthy, well-spoken Indian together with some white, working-class Brits, they immediately decided that she was not just different from them, but more upper class. One called her a princess, and meant it as an insult. If this is the case and the sociologists are right, it will inject new life into Britain’s fascination with celebrity. Oh joy.
What is this obsession with celebrity that dominates our culture today? Many reasons have been given for this. They could be historical: Britain has always has a very strong class system, and though it was supposedly abolished, a new one has been built on the dying embers of the old. The "celebrities" are considered to be in a new dimension, and, as a rule, people are fascinated with those who they see as higher in the social echelon and also those who they consider to have glamorous or rich lifestyles. However, this obsession could also have its root in the continued declination of communities. People no longer can gossip about their neighbours so instead talk about the lives of the famous. I'm less sure about this one, a school will always be a fairly close knit community where gossip runs amok, but the obsession with celebrity culture is as strong there as anywhere else. British celebrity culture is fairly tolerant: ethnic minorities and homosexuals feature prominently. I suppose you could even call it democratic, it certainly cannot be defined as a meritocracy, no discernible talent is apparently needed to enter the aristocracy of celebrity. Of course, you could also call this obsession symptomatic of a consumerist and materialist society. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no anti-consumerist, No-Logo disciple. As far as I'm concerned, people can have what they want in terms of labels and famous cars. Just don't ask me to participate! I simply cannot bring myself to partake in a game of one-upsmanship. Celebrities' lives, indeed, celebrities themselves, are a product. They are carefully packaged and managed and presented to the voracious public to consume. Just an idea.
I have to say, I don't understand the attraction. What is the point in talking about random people's lives? Most of them aren't famous for anything except their looks, or sounding vaguely like they can sing once their voices are distorted through the wonders of modern technology. Why are they interesting? I really like Paul Merton, he amuses me, and his wit never fails to amaze. However, my level of interest in his personal life? None, or at worst, minimal.
What does everyone think? Is this world really this obsessed with the idea of their 15 minutes of fame? Are our own lives so pathetic that we have to live voraciously through others? Is it really a crime to actually have some form of general knowledge?
The Young Contrarian
Right, all thanks to people who have commented, I've replied to you in the relevant entries' comments.
I'm having a slight change of pace today and am partly going to talk about the Celebrity Big Brother scandal. I'm aware I'm marginally out of date, but at least we get the benefit of hindsight! For those of you who don't live or follow news in the UK, Wikipedia has a fair overview of the story.
As I'm sure you can guess, I do not watch the show. I find it a distinctly repellent concept and scarily Orwellian. If anyone is interested, I watch two or three shows a week: Have I Got News For You?, Mock the Week and QI. Everything else I watch on DVD, I'm obsessed with House, The Gilmore Girls and Monk. But anyway, all this is by the by, let's get down to the main purpose of this entry.
I think we can all agree that the *ahem* delightful Jade Goody was out of order and did mean harm in her comments. I decline to pass judgement on whether she did actually mean them in a racist way. There is one thing inordinately hopeful about this whole ridiculous debacle. Over 45,000 people complained to Ofcom, the media regulator. In our fairly apathetic society, over most issues, few people complain, but the comments passed by Ms Goody and other housemates caused a massive deluge of objections. At least there are some things our society cares about.
I find Jade Goody more than slightly repellent, it astounds and, frankly appals me that someone who, throughout their "career" has displayed such crudeness, vulgarity, and, let's face it, immense ignorance, has amassed a fortune of £8m and was voted the 25th most influential person in the world (according to a poll taken by Heat). It can't just be me who this terrifies. What does it say about the state of our society today that someone as ignorant as Ms Goody is as admired as she is? In fact, it is fairly indicative of the current culture in the UK that she should be admired. Education continues to count for less, respect for teachers continues to fall and the new plans for a "flexible curriculum" sound like they are designed to teach less but sound better. Also, what else can you expect for a country where more magazines documenting the ups and, better, the downs of celebrities are sold than anywhere else in the world (relative to the size of its population). When did it become a stigma to be well spoken, educated and polite? It is interesting that when Celebrity Big Brother placed a wealthy, well-spoken Indian together with some white, working-class Brits, they immediately decided that she was not just different from them, but more upper class. One called her a princess, and meant it as an insult. If this is the case and the sociologists are right, it will inject new life into Britain’s fascination with celebrity. Oh joy.
What is this obsession with celebrity that dominates our culture today? Many reasons have been given for this. They could be historical: Britain has always has a very strong class system, and though it was supposedly abolished, a new one has been built on the dying embers of the old. The "celebrities" are considered to be in a new dimension, and, as a rule, people are fascinated with those who they see as higher in the social echelon and also those who they consider to have glamorous or rich lifestyles. However, this obsession could also have its root in the continued declination of communities. People no longer can gossip about their neighbours so instead talk about the lives of the famous. I'm less sure about this one, a school will always be a fairly close knit community where gossip runs amok, but the obsession with celebrity culture is as strong there as anywhere else. British celebrity culture is fairly tolerant: ethnic minorities and homosexuals feature prominently. I suppose you could even call it democratic, it certainly cannot be defined as a meritocracy, no discernible talent is apparently needed to enter the aristocracy of celebrity. Of course, you could also call this obsession symptomatic of a consumerist and materialist society. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no anti-consumerist, No-Logo disciple. As far as I'm concerned, people can have what they want in terms of labels and famous cars. Just don't ask me to participate! I simply cannot bring myself to partake in a game of one-upsmanship. Celebrities' lives, indeed, celebrities themselves, are a product. They are carefully packaged and managed and presented to the voracious public to consume. Just an idea.
I have to say, I don't understand the attraction. What is the point in talking about random people's lives? Most of them aren't famous for anything except their looks, or sounding vaguely like they can sing once their voices are distorted through the wonders of modern technology. Why are they interesting? I really like Paul Merton, he amuses me, and his wit never fails to amaze. However, my level of interest in his personal life? None, or at worst, minimal.
What does everyone think? Is this world really this obsessed with the idea of their 15 minutes of fame? Are our own lives so pathetic that we have to live voraciously through others? Is it really a crime to actually have some form of general knowledge?
The Young Contrarian
posted by The Young Contrarian at 5:30 pm
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