Summary
Contents
Subject index
What is celebrity? How do celebrities influence society? Why do we hang on their every word, tweet or status update? Celebrity Cultures offers a fresh insight into the field of celebrity studies by updating existing debates and exploring recent developments. From the PR campaigns of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar to the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California, this book critically evaluates a number of diverse celebrity case-studies and considers what they reveal about contemporary global society. Taking into account issues such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, economics, politics and the media, the book draws upon a range of cultural theorists including Theodore Adorno and Jean Baudrillard. Over the course of ten richly illustrated chapters, the book: Draws upon sociology, cultural theory, media analysis and celebrity commentary to explore and re-evaluate the study of celebrity. Examines the international appeal of celebrity including examples from India, China, South Korea and Indonesia. Includes chapter introductions identifying key points and annotated further reading suggestions. Celebrity Cultures is an invaluable resource for students of celebrity, media and cultural studies.
Celebrity Culture: Conclusions
Celebrity Culture: Conclusions
Evaluating the status of fame in the mid-1990s, the science fiction author, J.G. Ballard, author of books such as Crash and The Atrocity Exhibition (both of which are concerned with icons of fame), observed that although celebrity was a crucial factor within the media landscape, to the extent that it constituted the ‘fuel’ that pushed the media machine forward, nevertheless it was beginning to falter. This was the result of the steady decline in the lack of admiration for individuals truly worthy of public praise. Thus, where once approbation was directed towards world leaders of the stature of JFK, in the 1990s it had alternatively drifted towards celebrities of the stature of television personalities, individuals whose fame was not built ...
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