Antonia Jones
What is the difference between being famous and being a celebrity? Is there even a difference? I believe the definition of celebrity and the definition of fame at the very least have overlapping characteristics. But the problem is that the media industry has blurred those lines. And they have done more than that. They have turned some people into celebrities who may or may not be worthy of this title.
I think the word celebrity can be defined in three parts. An article published by the Norman Lear Center describes two parts, “A celebrity must be known or he is no celebrity, which is why publicity is a prerequisite. So what turns a famous person into a celebrity? The grand answer, on empirical evidence, seems to be narrative.” (Gabler). This means that, in order for a person to be considered a celebrity, they have to be: 1. well known and 2. have a story. However, I would also add a third part to this definition. I believe that in order to truly be considered a celebrity, a person should have talent. How do we define talent though? What I may consider talent and what you may consider talent could be completely different.
Now, let’s quickly discuss fame. I would argue that the celebrity definition and the way in which we define fame are one in the same. For example, it’s safe to say that people like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sofia Vergara, Beyonce, and Bruce Springsteen are all celebrities. Each of them are well known, are interesting as people, have lives we want to know about, and have talent. In parallel to that, it’s safe to say that people like Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Anna Wintour, and the Dalai Lama are famous. They each are well known and each have contributed to different industries ranging from politics to technology to fashion to the spiritual life. The question is, do we care about their personal lives? In some cases, we do (cough, Bill Clinton), and in other cases we don’t.
We live in a world where we are surrounded by media and information. It is presented through high tech, on different media platforms, and on a range of topics. None of this is a bad thing, but I believe that Hollywood and the media industry have banded together to create a world where anyone can become a celebrity. In turn, this has watered down the entertainment world, the talent we see, the creativity we are exposed to, and even some of these industries themselves.
For example, why on earth is Kim Kardashian considered a celebrity? What valuable talent does she have? In fact, what the heck has she truly contribution to our society other than brainless entertainment? One celebrity blogger writes, “Infamous celebrities.. are famous for being almost universally disliked… Infamous celebrities are a direct result of public awareness of their obsession with the celebrity world” (Social Media and Celebrity Culture: The Division Between The Celebrity and The Fan). Alright, alright. I admit I have a love/hate relationship with Kim Kardashian.
I do, however, get exceptionally mad when famous people condone wannabe celebrities like Kim Kardashian. Last year, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were featured on the cover of Vogue. And for those of you who don’t follow the fashion industry, Vogue is the fashion world’s bible. There was a huge uproar because people did not think that the infamous couple belonged on the cover of such a prestigious magazine. Unfortunately, someone truly famous came to their rescue. As an ABC News article reported, “Twitter immediately erupted with comments regarding the engaged couple landing the coveted cover, but Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, already knew that would happen. To combat any rumors about the collaboration, Wintour wrote her editor’s letter in the issue all about the idea to put the celeb duo on the front of the magazine” (Ellenbogen). You see, celebrities and famous people have more of an impact on our society than we realize.
These celebrities, as opposed to people who, rightly, are famous for their actual contributions to society, don’t just provide us with entertainment. Celebrities practically run certain industries. And who we let become a celebrity can easily reflect on who we are as a society. It’s okay that we condone them as a source of entertainment. Life can get boring sometimes and mindless entertainment can be satisfying, if not actually necessary. But there has to be a line somewhere. The question is where is it? Are we past it? Can we ever go back? Who knows. Hopefully, we have enough famous people who are also celebrities and who truly do contribute to our society in a positive way, in order to balance out the celebrities that don’t.
Work Cited
Gabler, Neal. “Toward A "New" Definition of Celebrity." The Normal Lear Center. Entertainment: Exploring Implications of the Convergence of Entertainment, Commerce, and Society (2001): n. pag. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
"Social Media and Celebrity Culture." Web log post. Wordpress, 15 Nov. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
Pappas, Stephanie. "Oscar Psychology: Why Celebrities Fascinate Us." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 24 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
Ellenbogen, Rachael. "Anna Wintour Says Kardashian-West Cover Was 'Entirely Our Idea,'" ABCNews.com 21 March 2014. Web.
Julia Timpanaro
ReplyDeleteAntonia, I thought that this was one of the best blog posts I’ve read so far this semester. Not only was it highly informative, but it was also extremely interesting. As I was reading your blog, something that particularly stuck out to me was your comparison regarding being famous verses being a celebrity. Between your blog and the articles I had to read this week really made me think. What is the difference between being a celebrity verses being famous? I believe that your definitions were accurate. In order to be a celebrity you must be well known for your contribution to society. If you are famous, you are more about the lime light and less about making a change in the world, but that’s just my opinion.
Lets take a closer look at Kim Kardashian. Just like you, I would have to say I have a love hate relationship with not only her, but also her entire family. Over the past eight years, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, has been a huge success. This show, films the entire Kardashian family all day, everyday. Throughout this reality television show we see every family member and their triumphs/struggles. For some reason, people everywhere have been tuning in on a constant basis to keep up with all of them. The question I always seem to ask myself is, how did the Kardashian’s actually become famous? Was it Kim’s sex tape with rapper Ray J and or was it because Robert Kardashian, their late father, was the defense lawyer for OJ Simpson? Why is there such an attraction to this family? Are we really entertained by their pure dysfunction or are we in reality jealous of their success? To answer these questions, I honestly don’t know. Yes, Kim, Kendall and Kourtney are very attractive people, but I really don’t see where the sensation is coming from.
As you mentioned earlier, Kim Kardashian and Kayne West were on Vogue’s cover during April 2014. This caused complete controversy not only amongst the fashion world, but society as a whole as well. Anna Wintour, who is the editor-in-chief of Vogue, knew that this was going to cause an uproar, so she wrote this in her editors letter, “Part of the pleasure of editing ‘Vogue,’ one that lies in a long tradition of this magazine, is being able to feature those who define the culture at any given moment, who stir things up, whose presence in the world shapes the way it looks and influences the way we see it,” wrote Wintour. “I think we can all agree on the fact that that role is currently being played by Kim and Kanye to a T.” (Ellenbogen) I have been reading Vogue since I’ve been in fifth grade and when I saw the cover sitting on my kitchen table I was infuriated. I personally hate how she is on EVERYTHING. Even though I can see where Anna Wintour is coming from, I still don’t believe that they should have been on the cover.
In the article, Beyoncé Knowles Tops The Forbes Celebrity 100 List, it talks about how Beyoncé tops the charts as Forbes number one celebrity. In Beyoncé’s defense she rightfully deserves her spot. Whether people adore her or hate her, she has managed to be involved in many things. Even Forbes has noticed that”…She has built her own empire.”(Forbes)
All in all, even though people think that being famous and being a celebrity is the same thing, I still believe there is a fine line that separates the two.
Works Cited
Ellenbogen, Rachael. "Anna Wintour Says Kardashian/West Vogue Cover Was ‘Entirely Our Idea’." Anna Wintour Says Kardashian/West Vogue Cover Was ‘Entirely Our Idea’. ABC News, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
Forbes. "Beyonce Knowles Tops The FORBES Celebrity 100 List." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 30 June 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
Erika Almanzar
ReplyDeleteAntonia,
I think you made great points when trying to explain the difference between celebrity status and fame. In today’s society, it seems more common for the media to categorize celebrities and the famous into one group. With the power of social media, musicians such as Justin Bieber have achieved celebrity status from his singing after being discovered on YouTube. In other cases, viral personalities such as Sophia Grace and Rosie have become Internet famous with the help of Ellen DeGeneres. However, in recent years, reality shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians have elevated the entire Kardashian family into celebrity status, despite the fact that none of them possess any notable talent. Although the Kardashians are more likely to fall into the category of fame, the heavy media presence on their personal lives gives them the same amount of attention, if not more attention than many talented celebrities.
While the Kardashians have opened up DASH stores and the Kardashian Kids clothing line in order to showcase their fashion and branding, the media continues to fixate their attention on the family’s lives, thus creating celebrity status instead of fame. For example, recent headlines of Bruce Jenner have surfaced among tabloids, although the family has not released a statement confirming nor denying the rumor about his transition. Additionally, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Vogue cover last year sparked controversy throughout Twitter after the couple announced their engagement. When Anna Wintour, Editor-In-Chief of Vogue, explained to readers why the Kardashian-Wests were chosen as the magazine’s coveted cover, she justified the decision by stating that “part of the pleasure of editing Vogue is being able to feature those who define the culture at any given moment, to stir things up” (Ellenbogen). Despite criticisms of the Kardashian family, it seems as though they have become a household name, which explains why Wintour invited them to be featured in Vogue.
While the media often places some famous personas in the same type of spotlight as celebrities, there are certain actors, musicians, and personalities who clearly fit into one category. For example, Beyonce solely fits in the celebrity category because she is mainly recognized for her vocal talent. Additionally, Beyonce’s acting career, partnerships with Pepsi and H&M, and marriage to Jay-Z with daughter Blue Ivy show a few examples of how she contributes to modern-day culture while constantly keeping the interest and loyalty of her fans. According to Forbes and Pollstar, Beyonce received the number one spot on the Celebrity 100 in 2014 after major success from her On the Run Tour with Jay-Z, which received an estimate of $2.4 million for each of her 95 stops. Furthermore, Beyonce’s surprise “visual album” received much attention and success while the superstar was estimated to have received about $113 million between 2013 and 2014 (Pomerantz).
Lastly, I believe that in many instances, the media has placed certain celebrities and famous people into their respective categories, while there are blurred lines in cases such as the Kardashians. While it seems that social media is playing a major factor in fame today, it is up to us as media consumers to help define the boundaries and lines for who we classify as famous or a celebrity.
Works Cited
Ellenbogen, Rachael. "Anna Wintour Says Kardashian-West Cover Was 'Entirely Our Idea,'" ABCNews.com 21 March 2014. Web.
"Beyoncé Knowles Tops The Forbes Celebrity 100 List." Forbes. 30 June 2014. Web.
Tyler Speed
ReplyDeleteAntonia, I really enjoyed reading your post about the difference between fame and celebrity. While reading it, I cam to the conclusion that you are 110% correct about how society is demeaning what it truly means to be a celebrity, by promoting less talented people to star status. I think that the perfect example of this kind of issue can be seen in the one hit wonders on youtube Psy. Psy is the guy if you don’t remember who did Gangnam Style. Psy released this video in the summer of 2012 and currently has almost 2.3 billion views youtube. That is right I said billion views. To me this is exactly the type of thing that you were talking about. Psy literally has zero talent when it comes to singing or creating music, however because we as society decided to make him a viral sensation he is now set for life, and treated like a celebrity.
It really just irritates me that these types of people are going to have so much success now in their life because we made them famous. It makes me sad to think that people who do actually have talent get overlooked for people who make these incredibly obnoxious contributions to society and get praised for it. People like Kim freaking Kardashian are getting praise from just about everyone on social media for being famous, and the ridiculous part is that other extremely talented celebrities are praising her too. Anna Wintour, who is an incredibly successful editor of Vogue magazine was actually quoted stating this in regards to putting Kim Kardashian on the cover of the magazine,
“Part of the pleasure of editing ‘Vogue,’ one that lies in a long tradition of this magazine, is being able to feature those who define the culture at any given moment, who stir things up, whose presence in the world shapes the way it looks and influences the way we see it” (Wintour 2014)
So, let me just get this straight, Anna Wintour is saying that Kim Kardashian represents me and everyone in American population. Well, Ms. Wintour I would like to respectfully disagree completely with the idea that Kim Kardashian represents the American Public. She has done nothing of note for society and has been given everything without earning any of it for herself. The American way of doing things is by working your way from the ground up and paying your dues so that one day you can have a better life, and with all due respect Kim Kardashian represents none of that.
On a completely different note, it also irritates me that people who do actually have real talent get so heavily scrutinized by the media these days that it feels like society almost doesn’t want them as celebrities any more. I think the perfect example of what I am trying to get at here lies with Justin Bieber. Justin is actually a very smart and talented celebrity and has unfortunately been so caught in the limelight of media organizations that the young man can no longer even breathe without people scrutinizing it. In a quote by Entertainment Weekly about Justin behaving badly they state,
“What was pop's most prolific troublemaker, Justin Bieber, up to last week? Oh, just being investigated by the FAA, facing possible felony charges...for egging. “(Entertianment Weekly 2014).
So apparently it is a story that Justin Bieber might be facing felony charges for egging a house. Alright, I’ll bite it sounds interesting I’ll give them that, but this story just continues to diminish the actual accomplishment that this young man has had. Justin just turned 21 and is making almost 200 million dollars, if you ask me we as society members should not be looking at all the bad things Justin has done but all the good things that have made him get to where he is now. I think that the real problem we need to focus on is the media and how they either can promote people who don’t deserve it or diminish celebrities who do. Do you think we should hold the media more accountable? Or should we hold ourselves more accountable for believing everything that we see?
Work Cited
ReplyDeleteEllenbogen, Rachael. "Anna Wintour Says Kardashian-West Cover Was 'Entirely Our Idea,'" ABCNews.com 21 March 2014. Web.
"Biebs Behaving Badly." Entertainment Weekly 21 Feb. 2014. Web.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWho makes other people famous? How? Why? These are the question this post poses to all readers. Antonia makes a great point when she writes that celebrity culture does reflect who we are as a society and what it is that we value as a nation. However, I think it is an oversimplification to say that audiences “let” people become celebrities. It’s easy to think that audiences have the power to dictate who acquires fame and stardom, what with all of us tuning in to watch the Kardashians every Sunday or reading celebrity news on Twitter or tabloid magazines. To some degree, yes, the attention the world gives to something is what draws even more attention to it. But let’s not forget that events can be staged or planned, and attention can be generated whether or not the event or people involved are attention worthy.
ReplyDeleteEveryone loves to use Kim Kardashian as an example when talking about everything wrong with Hollywood and celebrity culture, and for obvious reasons. Kardashian has built an empire for herself and family, and their fame is accredited to a sex tape leaked in the early 2000s of her and singer Ray J. She’s less famous for being the daughter of O.J. Simpson’s lawyer, and considerably less famous for founding a boutique clothing story with her sisters. Her sex tape was what got our attention – which, frankly, says more about us as a society than her being involved in a sex scandal says about her as an individual – but here’s is what makes her worthy of being a celebrity. The Kardashians, whether we like it or not, are genius at keeping up with current trends or starting them, and it is not because we “let” them. In an industry where trends are always changing and where celebrity connections help you get ahead, I commend their ability (and sometimes tragic attempts) to remain relevant not just in the world of fashion but also in other areas of entertainment (music, sports, social media etc). The Kardashins aren’t famous for nothing; they are, in their own right, famous for knowing how to be famous.
The Forbes Celebrity 100 List uses a variety of factors to measure fame, some of which include how frequently a celebrity is mentioned in print, TV, and radio and how much social media power a celebrity has (Pomerantz) To continue with the Kardashians example, these are women who are constantly in the news cycle and have “broken the Internet” at one point in time or another, and who will continue doing so. This makes them very valuable in the world of entertainment, if not to us, then certainly for people who want take advantage of their power for commercial purposes. Whether or not Kim and Kanye “belonged” on the cover of Vogue is irrelevant; from a business perspective, I’d be stupid not to put them on the cover, given the amount of attention and anticipation the Kardashian-West wedding spurred. I agree with Anna Wintour’s comments defending her choice to use the couple for the magazine. She says that Vogue prides itself on featuring “those who define the culture at any given moment, who stir things up, whose presence in the world shapes the way it looks and influences the way we see it” (Ellenbogen). Why are these traits important in a celebrity? Because these are the people who will sell brands to the public most successfully. So, Kim Kardashian. Brainless entertainment or brilliant business mogul?
Work Cited
Pomerantz, Dorothy. "Beyonce Knowles Tops The Forbes Celebrity 100 List." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 30 June 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.
Ellenbogen, Rachel. "Anna Wintour Says Kardashian/West Vogue Cover Was ‘Entirely Our Idea’." ABC News. N.p., 21 May 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.