Celebrity: Difference between revisions
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Celebrity is a by-word for a person who is undeserving of their money. Not earnings. They don't earn or deserve a penny. |
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{{otheruses}} |
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Even benefit people should be paid more. |
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{{redirect|Popstar|the direct-to-video film|Popstar (film)}} |
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{{redirect|Pop star|the Ken Hirai single|Pop Star}} |
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[[Image:MMONROE1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marilyn Monroe]], actress]] |
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A '''celebrity''' is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention. The word stems from the [[Latin]] verb "celebrere" but they may not become a celebrity unless public and [[mass media]] interest is piqued. For example [[Virgin Group|Virgin]] Director [[Richard Branson]] was famous as a [[CEO]], but he did not become a global celebrity until he attempted to [[Circumnavigation|circumnavigate]] the [[Earth|globe]] in a [[hot air balloon]]. Another example is [[Al Gore]], whose environmental crusade has elevated him to celebrity status. On the other hand, [[mass media|mass entertainment]] personalities such as [[soap opera]] actors or music stars are likely to become celebrities even if the person deliberately avoids media attention. |
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A famous definition of celebrity comes from the cultural theorist [[Daniel Boorstin]]. In his book,''The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America'', he cynically describes a celebrity as “a person who is known for his well-knownness . . . a human pseudo-event.”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/06/specials/boorstin-image.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Wanted: More Events, More Heroes|accessdate=2007-11-23|author=Martin Mayer|date=1962-04-08|publisher=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> |
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==Central Celebrities== |
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[[Image:Oscar.jpg|thumb|Irish author [[Oscar Wilde]] was a 19th-century celebrity, as famous for his outrageous personality and later disgrace for his homosexuality as he was for his writing.]] |
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A small number of celebrities can be considered 'global', in that their fame has spread across the world, even across linguistic and cultural boundaries. |
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These celebrities are often prominent political figures, actors, globally successful artists, [[musicians]] and [[sports]] stars. |
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The rise of international celebrities in acting and popular music is due in large part to the massive scope and scale of the media industries, enabling celebrities to be viewed more often and in more places. The reach of entertainment products is further extended by large-scale illegal copying of movies and music, which makes inexpensive pirated versions of DVDs and CDs available throughout even [[LEDC|less economically developed countries.]] |
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===Regional or cultural celebrities=== |
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Each culture and region has its own independent celebrity system, with a hierarchy of popular film, television, and sports stars. Celebrities who are very popular in one country might be unknown abroad, except with culturally-related groups, such as within a [[diaspora]]. In some cases, a country-level celebrity might command some attention outside their native country, but not to the degree that they can be considered a global celebrity. For example, singer [[Lara Fabian]] is widely-known in the French-speaking world, but only had a couple of Billboard hits in the U.S., whereas singer [[Celine Dion]] is well-known in both communities. |
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<blockquote>In our modern system of civilisation, celebrity (no matter of what kind) is the lever that will move anything. [[Wilkie Collins]], ''[[The Moonstone]]'' (1868)<ref>Collins, Wilkie (1868). ''[[The Moonstone]]''. London: Tinsley. Second Period, Fifth Narrative, Chap. 1</ref></blockquote> |
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Subnational entities or regions, or cultural communities (linguistic, ethnic, religious) also have their own 'celebrity systems', especially in linguistically or culturally-distinct regions such as [[Quebec]] (a French-speaking province in [[Canada]]) and [[Wales]] (a [[constituent country]] of the UK). Regional radio personalities, newscasters, politicians or community leaders can be considered as local or regional celebrities. |
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A local celebrity can be more of a household name than a national celebrity and may often experience the same type of attention from the public as a national celebrity albeit in the confines of their particular region. For example, while journalist [[Lin Sue Cooney]] is a well known [[television]] reporter in [[Arizona]], while she is little known outside the Southwestern US. In [[New York City]], [[fashion designer]] [[Marisol Deluna]] is well known for her design work to the [[Park Avenue]] set, but perhaps would not be recognized as easily in [[Greenwich Village]], a nearby neighborhood in [[Manhattan]]. |
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In a smaller country, linguistic or cultural community, a figure will be less likely to gain a broader celebrity. [[Shakira]] and [[Daddy Yankee]] were known largely in the [[Spanish Language|Spanish]]-speaking world before becoming popular in English-speaking communities, by performing [[English language]] songs. Similarly, Spanish actors [[Penélope Cruz]] and [[Antonio Banderas]], who were country-level celebrities in their native Spain, were able to become global celebrities only after they became Hollywood actors in English-speaking films. |
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English-speaking media commentators and journalists will sometimes refer to celebrities as ''[[A-List]]'', ''B-List'', ''C-List'', ''D-List'' or ''Z-List''. These informal rankings indicate a placing within the hierarchy. However, due to differing levels of celebrity in different regions, it is difficult to place people within one bracket. A Nicaraguan actor might be a B-list action film actor in the US, but be an A-list star in the Czech Republic. An objective method of placing celebrities from any country into categories from ''A-List'' to ''H-List'' based on their number of [[Google]] hits has been proposed<ref>[[Eric Schulman|E. Schulman]], "[http://members.verizon.net/~vze3fs8i/air/fame3.html Measuring Fame Quantitatively. III. What Does it Take to Make the 'A' List?],"''[[Annals of Improbable Research]]'' '''[http://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume12/v12i1/v12i1.html Vol. 12, No. 1]''' (2006), 11. </ref>, but while this method is quantitative, it only works for individuals with distinctive names, e.g., Jason Mewes, not Kevin Smith. |
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==Professions that can make someone a celebrity== |
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[[Image:GiseleBundchen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Gisele Bündchen]], model]] |
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Some professional activities, by the nature of being high-paid, highly exposed, and difficult to get into, are likely to confer celebrity status. For example, [[movie star]]s and television [[actor]]s with lead roles on prominently scheduled shows are likely to become celebrities. High-ranking [[politician]]s, national [[List of television reporters|television reporters]], daytime television show hosts, [[supermodels]]<ref>[http://models.com/icons/icons.html?fnumber=5&lnumber=1 MODELS.com's Icons - 5-1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, |
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successful athletes and chart-topping [[musicians]] are also likely to become celebrities. A few [[humanitarian]] leaders such as [[Mother Teresa]] have even achieved fame because of their charitable work. Some people are internet celebrities and are found in videos online. |
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While some [[film director|film]] and [[Theatre direction|theatre director]]s, [[Film producer|producers]], [[fashion designers]], [[artist]]s, [[author]]s, [[trial lawyer]]s and [[journalist]]s have achieved celebrity status, in general they are less famous than actors of equal professional importance to the business. |
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Individuals with their own television show (or sections of television shows) often become a celebrity, even when their profession would not normally lead to celebrity status: this can include [[Physician|doctor]]s, [[chef]]s, [[gardener]]s, and [[conservationist]]s on shows like ''[[Trading Spaces]]'' and ''[[The Crocodile Hunter]]''. However fame based on one program may often prove short-lived after a program is discontinued. |
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==Celebrity families== |
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An individual can achieve celebrity on the basis of their profession, accomplishments, or notoriety, without necessarily having any family or social connections to aid them. However, there are families where the entire family is considered to have celebrity status. In monarchies, all members of royal families are celebrities, especially when they are associated with a real or perceived scandal. As well, there are artistic 'dynasties', where several members of a family are associated with a profession - such as in music, sports or politics. |
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Examples include the [[Hilton family|Hiltons]], [[Barrymore family|Barrymores]], [[The Braxtons|Braxtons]], [[Coppola family|Coppolas]], [[Osmonds]], [[The Osbournes|Osbournes]], [[Redgrave family|Redgraves]], [[The Jackson 5|Jacksons]], [[Kennedy family|Kennedys]], Chaplins and Baldwins. |
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==Celebrity as a mass media phenomenon== |
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[[Image:Hilton, Paris (2007).jpg|thumb| [[Paris Hilton]] typifies the modern paradigm of "famous for being famous".]] |
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In the 1970s, academics began analyzing the phenomenon of celebrity and stardom. According to Sofia Johansson the "canonical texts on stardom" include articles by Boorstin (1971), Alberoni (1972) and [[Richard Dyer| Dyer]] (1979) that examined the "representations of stars and on aspects of the Hollywood star system." Johansson notes that "more recent analyses within media and cultural studies (e.g. Gamson 1994; Marshall 1997; Giles 2000; Turner, Marshall and Bonner 2000; Rojek 2001; Turner 2004) have instead dealt with the idea of a pervasive, contemporary, ‘celebrity culture’." |
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In Bob Greene’s article “The new stardom that doesn't require paying any dues,” he argues that for “most of man's history...people of talent would work to create something--something written, something painted, something sculpted, something acted out--and it would be passed on to audiences.” With the rise of reality TV shows, Greene points out that audiences have been turned into the creators. He argues that the “alleged stars of the reality shows "Survivor" and "Big Brother,"have become famous not for doing, but merely for being.” <ref>[[Bob Greene|B. Greene]], "[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/bob/greene091400.asp The new stardom that doesn't require paying any dues],"''Jewish World Review'', September 14, 2000.</ref> |
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{{rquote|left|'''You have to go through many hoops just to talk to a major celebrity. You have to get past three different sets of publicists: the publicist for the event, the publicist for the movie, and then the celebrity's personal publicist. They all have to approve you.'''|[[Michael Musto]]|<ref>[http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/An_interview_with_gossip_columnist_Michael_Musto_on_the_art_of_celebrity_journalism Interview with Michael Musto], David Shankbone, ''[[Wikinews]]'', October 7, 2007.</ref>}} |
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Greene says that “You simply have to be present, in the right place at the right time.” Whereas “...public[ly famous] people were once defined as such based upon the fact that their remarkable skills had brought them to the attention of the public,” Greene states that with reality TV, “one can become a public person just by being a person, in public.” |
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Celebrities often have fame comparable to that of [[royal family|royalty]]. As a result, there is a strong public curiosity about their private affairs. Celebrities may be resented for their accolades, and the public may have a love/hate relationship with celebrities. Due to the high visibility of celebrities' private lives, their successes and shortcomings are often made very public. Celebrities are alternately portrayed as glowing examples of perfection, when they garner awards, or as decadent or immoral if they become associated with a scandal. |
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Tabloid magazines and talk TV shows bestow a great deal of attention on celebrities. To stay in the public eye and to make money, more celebrities are participating in business ventures such as celebrity-branded items including books, clothing lines, perfume, and household items. |
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== Fame in the 20th century == |
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[[Clive James]], the Australian writer, broadcaster and performer, wrote a book on the phenomenon of fame in the 20th century. He contends that true fame was almost unknown before the 20th century, because of the lack of global mass media, and the first true media celebrity was [[Charles Lindbergh]], initially because of his aviation feats and later because of the tragic kidnapping and murder of his son. |
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James points out that celebrity eventually became distinctly different from fame, resulting in the phenomenon of people who are [[famous for being famous]]. He cites [[Elizabeth Taylor]] as an early example, whose private life made her more of a celebrity than her film career had. He also contends that fame sometimes backfires on those who seek it by depriving them of their privacy for life, a point illustrated by the rise of the [[paparazzi]] and their fanatic desire for pictures and personal stories about celebrities. |
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He argues that achieving great fame requires frequently reinventing yourself, as exhibited by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Michael Jackson]]. |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==See also== |
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{{wikinews|An interview with gossip columnist Michael Musto on the art of celebrity journalism}} |
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*[[Celebrity worship]] |
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*[[Superstar (celebrity)]] |
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*[[Celebrity branding]] |
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*[[Q Score]] |
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*[[List of celebrities]] |
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*[[List of television presenters]] |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.celebrityculture.net/ Academic website for the study of Celebrity] |
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*[http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/414 Feature article on the psychology of celebrity obsession, "Divine Trash", from ''Cosmos'' science magazine] |
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[[Category:Celebrities| ]] |
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[[de:Star (Person)]] |
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[[es:Celebridad]] |
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[[it:Celebrità]] |
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[[he:ידוען]] |
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[[nl:Beroemdheid]] |
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[[ja:セレブリティ]] |
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[[nn:Kjendis]] |
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[[pl:Gwiazda (osoba)]] |
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[[pt:Celebridade]] |
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[[fi:Julkkis]] |
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[[sv:Kändis]] |
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[[zh:名流]] |
Revision as of 16:08, 25 April 2008
Celebrity is a by-word for a person who is undeserving of their money. Not earnings. They don't earn or deserve a penny. Even benefit people should be paid more.