People are always talking about the meaning of the word ‘celebrity’. Famous people frequently try to distance themselves from the word for fear of sounding pretentious, although I think that is sometimes a little ironic. It is often defined as somebody who is celebrated, as is the origin of the word. But I think in today’s society of pop culture, fame and glamour, naming somebody as a celebrity is seen as a label of falsity and vanity. The easiest place to find so-called celebrities is in cheap magazines which expose the shameful sins of any public figure who dares to eat a dessert. In short, calling yourself a celebrity has become a bit of a taboo.
A taboo which I oppose, because I don’t think there is anything wrong with being a celebrity. Admittedly I don’t think some people should fit into that category (the latest I’m A Celebrity lineup were hardly thriving figures) but I’m not trying to completely redefine the word. I’m simply trying to reclassify it. People like Katie Price and Paris Hilton are commonplace examples of undeserved fame, with which I agree. They shouldn’t be celebrities, but nevertheless, they are; whether we like it or not other people have an interest in them and this is the foundation on which I base my point. Being a celebrity means other people want a glimpse of what it’s like to be you. They have an unquenchable thirst for personal information satisfied, temporarily, only by words and pictures and videos and any form of media they can get their sense organs around. It doesn’t end here either: the details must be more revealing every time. Once we know their full birth name, we want their relatives’ names, their pets, their hobbies, their cars, their addresses. It’s a never-ending spiral of pure, shameless self-gratification fueled by blatant espionage. We love it. And they must love it too, or why would they enter the public eye? Everybody knows the cost – your private life, and everybody knows the rewards to be reaped – fame and money.
So the conclusion to be drawn from all this is that being a celebrity is not a bad thing. The deal is clear. And in fact, I believe rather than opposing this culture, we should expand and develop it. Allow a broader spectrum of influential, likeable figures to be a part of our daily lives. Why? Not for glorification, but for everybody’s benefit. Because I think the world deserves a better class of celebrity.
Food for Thought 