Favorite Celebrities
How Celebrity Culture Affects Our Lives
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, December 2010
Diane Qi, Arts & Entertainment Journalist
One of the strongest influences in the lives of many North American teenagers is celebrity culture. Tabloids such as people, and TV shows like e-talk and TMZ fuel our appetite for details about the personal lives of celebrities, while the style statements lauded by pop stars determine trends in fashion and beauty. But, the truth is that this carefully nurtured fascination with celebrity gossip can often play a destructive role in our lives.
Growing up in a media-dominated world, we can’t help but to feel the effects of this constructed reality. Fashion and advertising industries intentionally encourage feelings of inadequacy, and, surrounded by images attractive, airbrushed people, it’s easy to loose sight of one’s sense of self-worth. This problem is only compounded by our interest in celebrity culture.
But where does this obsession with the lives of the rich and famous come from? Perhaps, celebrity antics merely fulfill a desire for entertainment. Tabloid stories and reality TV shows tap into a deeply engrained fascination with the shocking and outrageous. But, we should not ignore the fact that, for many teenagers, an interest in celebrity culture coincides with an aspiration to resemble celebrity icons. Even as children we are encouraged to fantasize about our future careers as movie stars. After all, most of us desire respect and admiration, and those who seem to be receiving just this are well-positioned to become the icons of our inspiration.
However, while it’s certainly fun to imitate one’s favourite actor, to gasp over the latest celebrity scandal, or to be inspired by the wardrobe of one’s favourite singer, we cannot afford to forget that, ultimately, celebrities aren’t much different from ordinary human beings.
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, December 2010
Diane Qi, Arts & Entertainment Journalist
One of the strongest influences in the lives of many North American teenagers is celebrity culture. Tabloids such as people, and TV shows like e-talk and TMZ fuel our appetite for details about the personal lives of celebrities, while the style statements lauded by pop stars determine trends in fashion and beauty. But, the truth is that this carefully nurtured fascination with celebrity gossip can often play a destructive role in our lives.
Growing up in a media-dominated world, we can’t help but to feel the effects of this constructed reality. Fashion and advertising industries intentionally encourage feelings of inadequacy, and, surrounded by images attractive, airbrushed people, it’s easy to loose sight of one’s sense of self-worth. This problem is only compounded by our interest in celebrity culture.
But where does this obsession with the lives of the rich and famous come from? Perhaps, celebrity antics merely fulfill a desire for entertainment. Tabloid stories and reality TV shows tap into a deeply engrained fascination with the shocking and outrageous. But, we should not ignore the fact that, for many teenagers, an interest in celebrity culture coincides with an aspiration to resemble celebrity icons. Even as children we are encouraged to fantasize about our future careers as movie stars. After all, most of us desire respect and admiration, and those who seem to be receiving just this are well-positioned to become the icons of our inspiration.
However, while it’s certainly fun to imitate one’s favourite actor, to gasp over the latest celebrity scandal, or to be inspired by the wardrobe of one’s favourite singer, we cannot afford to forget that, ultimately, celebrities aren’t much different from ordinary human beings.