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Celebrity Worship

People admiring celebrities isn’t a new notion. History is filled with accounts of people idolizing certain individuals, whether for their physical looks, social status, special abilities, etc. This idolization can and has propped celebrities up on pedestals, creating this idea that celebrities are above others. Hollywood and other entertainment industries are the most prominent examples of this, and the internet has only further perpetuated this.

Celebrity worship has been seen with Jennifer Lawrence, Will Smith, Leonardo Di Caprio, and more recently, Keanu Reeves. Despite upholding celebrities to a high status, people often project certain qualities on these people and then tear them down as soon as their images of said celebrities are broken.

Why do you think people display such attitudes towards celebrities? With the internet being used as an outlet for toxic behavior, how do you think this could change, if at all?

  • One of the common signs of the fall of Empire is the creation and then adoration of celebrities. Perhaps one of the earliest examples can be found in Ancient Rome, with its panem et circenses shows for the masses. Gladiators, Charioteers and similar gained almost mythical status, with some earning vast fortunes and their sweat being collected and regarded as an aphrodisiac! Rome also glorified chefs...and we are seeing exactly the same today. For anyone interested in taking this topic suggestion, I'd recommend 'Four Horsemen' (2012), which covers this subject (amongst others). It's available to view on You Tube. – Amyus 5 years ago
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  • Ooh, this is a good topic! I want to add that one of the biggest changes we're seeing now is that the open-source nature of the Internet allows just about anyone who really wants to to become a celebrity. For instance, thanks to YouTube you can make home videos of yourself and (at least in theory) gain fame and fortune, which just perpetuates the celebrity culture (including its more toxic aspects) even further. – Debs 5 years ago
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  • This is a very interesting topic. An aspect of celebrity worship I have always found odd is the whole 'they're just like us' viewpoint and how that becomes a reason to praise them more. It's almost as if there's some sort of erasure of their pre-celebrity past so when the glamorous actress admits she loves eating McDonalds or the buff action hero is afraid of spiders it fuels this worship even though its quite banal. It's almost like normalcy becomes novelty. – JTVersus 5 years ago
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  • I think the reason why they admire such celebrities is because they can relate to them in some way. People who idolize strangers often have this notion of them being a perfect person and maybe not even a human ( in my opinion) putting them on this imaginary pedestal. However with social media and the internet it is a lot easier for these celebrities to mess up and get chastised. This could change the narrative in the future among other things. – 1sharmaaja1 4 years ago
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The Subliminal Marketing in Celebrity Products

Analyse what causes people to view products with celebrity names on them more enticing to buy. What difference does it make whether a product is made/sponsored by Ariana Grande, Jenner, Vanessa Hudgens, etc.? Also, do these buyers know that there is a difference between the product having the celebrity’s name on it just to sell more, and that the actual celebrity makes the product? It’s important to know the distinction, and which age range is affected the most.

  • Also consider the thematic or iconic connections that are attached to celebrities - what do they represent etc. and how is their association connected through their popular culture personas. – SaraiMW 6 years ago
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  • Don’t forget Jordan’s! – Munjeera 6 years ago
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The Trendiness of Social Justice Movements: Where do we draw the line between helping a cause and exploiting it?

Thanks to social media, social justice movements have become more prevalent over the past decade. The prominence of social justice sounds like a great thing; promoting equality between sexes, improving rights for marginalized groups, and recognizing that there are more than two genders are just a few examples of the diverse, multifaceted social issues that exist in our society. However, many companies and celebrities use buzzwords like "feminism" and "equality" to win the favour of their audiences. Does this bandwagon approach trivialize serious social issues? To what extent are we helping a cause and to what extent are we exploiting it?

  • This is such an important thing to consider. I think of Forever 21 selling shirts with the word "feminism" on them, when they were likely made by underpaid women in poor conditions. – Heather Lambert 6 years ago
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  • WOW, great topic. I mean, how timely could you get? I would especially like it if intersectionality were part of this discussion, since a lot of people think if you aren't 100% intersectional, you're not supporting anyone/exploiting everyone. (That might be true, but sometimes the way it's handled is more than a little exploitative). – Stephanie M. 6 years ago
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  • There might be ways to measure impact: 1) Duration, 2) Money raised and where it went, and 3) Precise organizations helped and how exactly. – Joseph Cernik 6 years ago
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Celebrities' Autobiographies

What do readers look for when purchasing a celebrities autobiography? Do readers prefer sentimentalism or heart-felt stories.

Also, what are a celebrities’ aim for their autobiography?

  • It may helpful to compare and contrast the sordid "tell-alls" with more sophisticated, well-regarded autobiographies. Both can include raw, unpleasant material: but what would make one honest and personal, and the other sleaze sensationalism? – Luthien 8 years ago
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  • I don't have the expertise to write this essay, but I would love to read it once it is written. Why DO people read celebrity biographies? – sophiacatherine 8 years ago
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  • I think I can answer your question Sophia. To participate in the exciting lives of celebrities and live through them. – Munjeera 7 years ago
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  • Personal reasons, different motives. – T. Palomino 1 year ago
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