The cult of the celebrity

[shadowkat]

Frustrated. But that's Monday for you - employed or otherwise, frustrating. What is it about Mondays? Now I have the old sixties tune Munday/Munday...in my head and just that lyric Munday...Munday. It would be one thing if I could remember the whole song, but nooo just that bit of lyric. Highly annoying. Happens with most songs. Enough to drive one crazy - but not too crazy, want to see crazy? Wander about the internet for a while, actually you don't have to wander that far, just wander about livejournal. Or better yet into assorted fandoms.



Over the past few months - I've seen and heard of a few disturbing incidents regarding what I like to refer to as "the cult of celebrity" that has me contemplating what it is about human beings that make us want to objectify each other. Or more to the point, objectify people we don't know but see constantly on the screen? By objectify - for want of a better word - I mean, make into an object, something that is not human but merely a symbol or character - not real. Why do we put people up on pedestals to worship and mock and lust after? Until they become statues to us, hardy toys for our play?

I'm beginning to understand why television and movie *stars* make as much money as they do - it's for all the crap their audience puts them through after the show airs. There's a reason why Shakespearen theaters had a gap between the audience and the stage - to protect the actors from their adoring fans. Once you become even mildly successful on either the big or small screen or in the public eye on some issue - your privacy becomes history. Look at Princess Diana, who couldn't so much as sneeze without twenty photographers clicking. You can't go out without someone invading your personal space or thinking they own a piece of you, merely because you happened to appear for 43 minutes each week on their television screen. The more successful or sexually attractive you are - the worse it gets. And if you happen to star in a cult tv show? Watch out. Because unlike mainstream TV, cult has nice little ancilliary products which encourage this type of worship - dolls, trading cards, etc - all with your likeness.

While some members of the audience are content to sit and just watch an actor entertain from afar, others have this odd desire to get up close and personal, which in of itself isn't such a bad thing. There's nothing wrong with wanting to see an actor in person to hear him speak about his craft. Anymore than there is anything wrong with going to a seminar. When things get dicey is when people stop treating the actor as a fellow human being who eats, shits, drinks, sleeps, and swears like the rest of us and instead, like playthings to write fiction about, slander at will, and maul in public. When the actor ceases being a working stiff playing a role and becomes in the viewers mind - an icon, a symbol - something to adore or if disappointed, mock. That's the thing, if the object of adoration fails the viewer/fan in any way - they become an object for mockery. Once the actor becomes a celebrity - they cease being human in some viewers eyes. And once that happens they cease to have *any* personal rights in the fans eyes. Life, liberty, personal privacy laws cease to exist. Fans will treat celebrities the way they wouldn't treat their worst enemy or closest friend. If the celebrity doesn't make any mistakes - ie. is perfect, the fan will adore and worship and shower him/her with gifts and attention. If, however, the celebrity disappoints the fan for any reason - they will mock, humilate, and treat the celebrity with derision. They become in effect the object of whatever punishment or rewards the fan wishes to foist upon them.

Of course the entertainment industry encourages and enables this behavior in fans by producing dolls with the actor's likeness, posters, and paying the actors lots of money to put in public appearances, which in turn has the effect of turning the actor in the eyes of their fans into an icon of sorts -something to be played with, adored, worshiped, criticized - but not treated as a human being with foibles, weaknesses, and desires. I've never understood why the moment someone becomes marginally famous they stop being human in our eyes. We justify our actions in the same way a sociopath might justify killing someone - well they asked for it. Or they put themselves up there for us to look at it. They are getting paid for it. I'm just doing what everyone else is. But if we took a moment to examine what we are doing...what would happen? A moment of self-awareness. Perhaps? I don't know. But I can completely understand why most professional actors stay off the internet. I would. Or I'd end up suing everyone and get bogged down in law bills. Can you think of anything more humilating to see online than your own personal history and likeness manipulated into a twisted NC-17 story? (I'm not talking about *fictional* characters here, I mean real people). Just imagine someone that you don't know writing about you and your next door neighbor having sex and inter-spersing it with details about your childhood and background? Say someone from livejournal who managed to take your personal data, knows your name, knows your friends names - and has written a story, published it on the internet for millions of unknown people to read, and does it under a pseudonyme? (Someone could do it by the way - we reveal quite a bit about ourselves in our journals, but we trust they won't because that would be crossing the line. Just as we would never do that to them.) Or what would it be like to be a speaker at a seminar - you are being paid to give a two day lecture, have been promised security, and when you get there you are placed in a private villa, isolated from people you know, fellow speakers - who are all in another location together, you have no food, drink or entertainment. You have to ask for everything to be brought to you. You can't wander about - due to security problems. And you are keyed up due to personal issues - such as a work colleague is in the hospital, another colleague and friend just got out, and you got some fantastic news that could change your life. When you ask for a drink - they send you a cart of alcohol. Then when you do go out in public, the convention goers want to maul you. They expect hugs and kisses. Sure you get paid close to 100,000 for the appearance and yeah the idea all these people adore you must feel great, but I can't help but wonder if it is worth it? The things people will do for money or a sense of validation. Look at all the reality shows.

Yet, we feel no sympathy for these people and justify our own behavior as being acceptable. Why? They make more money than we do? They have what we think we want? Envy? Jealousy? Boredom? What is it about us - that makes us engage in this behavior? Worse enjoy it? And how does that make us any different than the metaphorical vampires we watch on TV? They feed on blood, we feed on...humilation? pain? mockery?

Comments

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

To their credit, the more intelligent RP-fic writers will post disclaimers stating that "this is a work of fiction and is not meant to realistically depict the person who shares the name and appearance of the character in the fic".

Even with that, my reaction to RP fic is always slight embarassment, as in, "But... what if the actor reads this? What will s/he think?" I can't *help* but consider their reaction and feelings.

I suppose some of that has to do with the fact that I have more interest in the fictional characters actors play than the actors themselves. I know very little about their personal lives, nor do I care to find out. Is that treating them like *more* of an object than the person who seeks out every detail of an actor's life? Or less of an object? I don't know.

Struggling with it myself..

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Where's the line?

I do know more than I should about these actors personal lives - but most of that is due to my fascination with the process of making television.
And I enjoy reading about people's lives, famous or not.

But...when does it change from just reading what the person puts out there about themselves - ie. reading interviews or Q&A's and change to invasion of privacy? Caroline Kennedy and another author I can't recall off hand wrote a book a few years back about the laws of privacy and how we invade it. She's an attorney, who has managed with a great deal of effort to live a quiet life. But still she gets hounded.

The RP fic...while interesting, bothers me on a certain level - because many of the writers are taking stuff directly from interviews and Q&A's that the actors provided. Granted the actors did it willingly...but, it worries me. Just as all those Princess Diana books that sprouted after her death worried me. I can't help but wonder if the author writing it would be happy if someone did it to them?
On the other hand - considering the number of people who love reality shows and want to be on reality shows, maybe they wouldn't care? Then of course there are actors such as Carey Grant and John Wayne who created fictional personas in real life, hiding their real names, their real selves forever beneath them (very few people saw the real men.).

Re: Struggling with it myself..

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I seem to take less of an interest in actor's lives than other fans. I do like behind-the-scenes interviews where they say what it's like to work on the set, but I generally don't read interviews where they describe what their home life is like. It's not that interesting to me.

I think some fans want a feeling of control they get from writing about actor's lives, and real-life details gives you that feeling of control. Not all RP fic writers are like this, but some are. I mean, thinking of it: there's someone you find attractive and can objectify because you don't run into them in real life (much) and you can basically treat them like a doll you can dress up in different costumes and play-act them doing anything you want. And since they *are* a real person, the feeling of control's got to be immense. This is in contrast to people who actually stalk real people, whether they are celebrities or not. Stalking is ultimately an exercise in frustration if you can't control the life of your "quarry". Sitting back and just writing stories with as many real details as possible gives a much higher level of control.

When I was in junior high, I wrote a few RP fics, and it was a lot of fun imaging what it must be like to be that celebrity, to imagine what his life was like, to live in his world. And then to place yourself in it through some fictional proxy. So some of it just might be the fantasy of what *it's like* to BE a celebrity. Walk in his/her shoes. Get the attention, the goodies, think his/her thoughts. Write in the "down side" of celebrity and claim greater "accuracy" while still getting the fantasy.

Re: Struggling with it myself..

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I think you are right...it does have a lot to do with control. Particularly when you are lusting after or desiring this object and can't have it - it's this carrot forever out of reache. In a rock concert it's a carrot that looks deceptively close and if you get next to the stage you can grab it. And most likely get kicked for your trouble. The frustration that sets in as a result, requires an outlet.

Stalking is ultimately an exercise in frustration if you can't control the life of your "quarry". Sitting back and just writing stories with as many real details as possible gives a much higher level of control.

True. And the writing side is harmless. After all, whose reading it? But you and a few other fans. But...there are a few fans out there who are convinced that they actually have relationships with these actors. Some of them organize these conventions. A lot of them are stalkers and also write or read fic.

I can't help but wonder if they are enabled by the fic writing, which increases their obsession? And of course with the internet, you get other people egging you on and supporting the obession...so it escalates. Some obsessions are relatively harmless, writing BTVS/ATS fanfic, collecting DVD's - nothing wrong there, and let's face it there's something in our nature that just leads us to it. Not sure what it is - but all human beings have that obsessive/compulsive urge.

I've seen several different types of RP fics online and in my life:

1. The fantasy fic - where the writer is involved with the celebrity on some level. (This most of us do in our own heads if we're honest. I mean who hasn't daydreamed about dancing with Carey Grant or having hot sex with the hot new movie star?)
2. The fic that imagines what it would be like to be this person - which ponygirl points out was seen in both Joyce Carol Oats Blonde (Marilyn Monroe) and in Being John Malvovich - where people literally find a way to become John Malvovich. (The best scene in the movie is when John Malvovich goes through the rabbit hole and becomes his persona.) We all do this as well - trying on someone else's shoes as it were.
3. The fic that manipulates the histories of the personalities and their images to tell a story which really has nothing to do with them. This is weird. It's almost like that madlib game - where you put in your name and your personal history and it spits out this bizarre tale. I'm not sure how to wrap my mind around this last one. In a sense it is wildly creative and a way to break writers block. Yet it's also lazy writing - because you are skipping around character description or developing a character by relying on histories and names given to you. OTOH - as writers don't we take histories, experiences, and things we hear and meld them into a new character? The only difference is we usually clarify that it is a fictional character and not based on anyone living or dead. (There's a reason for that disclaimer - it protects you from defamation lawsuits).

The film Being John Malvovich comments on this type of RP fic/celebrity fic. John Cusak's character in the film is a puppeteer who tells stories - he gets inside Malvovich and instead of just going along for the sensory ride, he takes over Malvovich's body and manipulates that body like a life-size doll to tell the story he wants to tell and live the life he wants to live.

So is writing about people and ourselves our way of attempting to control some portion of our lives? And where do we draw the line as writers on what we decide to write about? Is there an ethical line that needs to be drawn here? Should we have the right to write anything we please?

Re: Struggling with it myself..

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

It's not so much about controlling our own life as imagining we have control over someone else's life. Getting what you want from them in some sense--which is interaction or a relationship of some sort with this person who otherwise would be inaccessible to you.

I saw "Being John Malkovich" and I found that movie a very interesting variation on all of this. Most particularly because John Malkovich was in the movie and so letting himself be objectified as a way of making a statement ABOUT celebrity objectification.

Some people wanted to live his life-treat him like a puppet that could let them live out another more glamorous existence. Some people just wanted to see through another person's eyes, no matter who it was. I found it interesting that some people wanted to meet him in real life while he was posessed by somebody else, somebody they knew. That would make meeting a celebrity and interacting with them a lot safer--the person uses the celebrity's body like a puppetier would while you are using it as a sexual object.

Re: Struggling with it myself..

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Most particularly because John Malkovich was in the movie and so letting himself be objectified as a way of making a statement ABOUT celebrity objectification.

That's the interesting thing. In some respects, the celebrity appears to be letting themselves be objectified. Partly because they have no choice - if you are a tv star, you sign a contract and the contract states you are willing to do whatever is neccessary to convey the story. And to promote that story and show. Unless you have a savvy entertainment attorney who puts protective clauses in there - you are pretty much at the mercy of your contract. And actors are treated as "meat" in Hollywood. Marsters in several interviews has commented on it - how he didn't realize he'd feel like a piece of meat, an object. In theater that doesn't happen and that was the world he came from.
There - when you appear nude on stage - very few people can see it. And if they do, it's brief, and
you are protected by other performers. On film? Not so much. The camera picks up more details. Other actors aren't as nice. And camermen can be nasty.
Then of course you have a different breed of viewer/audience - a broader one. Who may just see you as meat. Plus for film - many of these actors are chosen based on looks solely. They become objects. Now some of them decide to market that image - get as much money as possible for how they look - by posing in Playboy or Playgirl, etc. Others put in clauses - "no nudity" and only a few appearances. So is the actor responsible for the part he or she plays in the objectifying? Not sure.
John Malvoich (and I can't spell the guy's last name for the life of me) seems to be asking this question as well.

It's not so much about controlling our own life as imagining we have control over someone else's life.

I agree. But by imagining we have control over someone else's life doesn't that in a way increase our own feeling of control over our own? We get to play God as writers. And it's fun playing god - we can do what we want in our universes. If we are angry at someone - we punish them. If we love them -we reward them. Things we can't necessarily do in real life - particularly if that person is outside our reach.

Wow.

[deevalish.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

I wander around in other people's LJ's and respect their rights to their thoughts. I read the fan encounters, the con reports and so on. For the most part they are generally positive reports. But a few are scathing. Almost to the point of me thinking, "I thought you liked this person? You don't? then why are you writing about them? Why did you pay money to see them?"

Something inside me kind of shrivels up and wants to run away from that. I don't like it. Not one bit. And I hate it when someone else posts with, "LOL! That is so funny!". Supporting the unfounded snark. I don't like all the " Well, my friend's cousin's boyfrined worked security at that..." That's reputable?

*sigh* fandom is scary and depressing when it's this scary. It makes me feel very sorry for most of Hollywood. But then someone would call me a sappy bleeding heart for feeling sorry for the spoiled rich hacks.

Re: Wow.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

*sigh* fandom is scary and depressing when it's this scary. It makes me feel very sorry for most of Hollywood. But then someone would call me a sappy bleeding heart for feeling sorry for the spoiled rich hacks.

LOL! Yes, I wonder about myself as well. Hard to feel too sorry for someone who can bop off to an exotic place, first class, at the drop of a hat.
And doesn't *really* have to worry about working again in the next ten years.

George Clooney stated once, after coming close to slugging a photographer, "fame is the cancer of success". Yep.

I wander around in other people's LJ's and respect their rights to their thoughts. I read the fan encounters, the con reports and so on. For the most part they are generally positive reports. But a few are scathing. Almost to the point of me thinking, "I thought you liked this person? You don't? then why are you writing about them? Why did you pay money to see them?"

The response seems to be out of rage or disappointment or something. They loved this celebrity, but when they saw them in person he/she did not live up to their expectations. For instance, in past Q&A's a celeb made the mistake of telling people he didn't drink any more, then he was caught drinking. Fans rousted him for it online. He'd fallen off their pedestal.

Agree so much

[tyreseus.livejournal.com]

You have a way of perfectly capturing complex issues!

Sometimes I find myself getting the attitude that these people sought out fame and they should have known what that means in a modern world, but no career path should ever justify the level of dehumanizing and outright frightening behavior I've seen in fandom.

[ann1962]

Here you go! http://www.geocities.com/holidaysfun/monday.html

Exploitation and objectification seems to be the topic of the day.

I would never ever want to be famous. I don't even post pictures of me or my kids online for some of the reasons you list. I watched fame happen to a family I knew years ago. He got an ulcer from the stress. Then they had to make sure, while being taken to the hospital, that the ambulance turned off it sirens so the neighbours wouldn't know and spread the health news to the press. Their lives were not their own anymore. They couldn't even be sick in peace. But they made a fortune. I don't think it was worth it. They did. I like living in a certain amount of anonymity. Even the small amount of publicness my job entails concerns me sometimes. And there is no NC17 involved.

Shivers.

Ah thank you..

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Yes, I just read your entry where you discuss almost the same thing. LOL!

I'm the same way - no personal pics of me online. Except for the two that got posted when I wasn't looking and I still feel edgy about. I like my privacy. Which is why I guess the RP fic syndrom bugs me a bit - b/c it would annoy me if someone did it to me. OTOH - I know there are people out there who get off on it. Like to see themselves in fic.
I don't even like to see my posting personality in fic - that makes me cringe and feel oddly violated.
It's the idea I think of someone you can't see manipulating your image or information about you.

I know too much about marketing and advertising, too much about how careers and reputations can be destroyed by one misplaced word or comment. I'd never
be able to live the lives that celebrities do - be in the spotlight. People who appear on reality shows or want to - boggle my mind. Why? Why would you want that? I guess it depends on how high your embarrassment quotient or tolerance level is. Mine's very low - I cringe when other people humilate themselves. Can't bare to watch. While other people really enjoy it.

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

I agree with what you're saying, though I do think a convention is geared towards creating the type of atmosphere you discuss (she says with assurance having been to exactly one convention - but I have been to a lot of rock concerts and it seems similar), and the day to day existence of the actors is probably quite different. I've seen people get mobbed at concerts and appearances and I've also seen big name stars walk down the street and only get a few nods. I love our MEverse actors to non-literal bits but I have a feeling they don't get recognized that much outside of these events.

Have you ever read Joyce Carol Oates' novel Blonde? Essentially it's a huge piece of fanfiction about Marilyn Monroe, but it was quite well-received when it came out a few years back. I always think about it when I hear about people debating fanfiction, that and Being John Malkovich, which was obviously made with the actor's particpation, but also was about the blending of public and private identity. Seems like everyone thinks about celebrities to a greater or lesser degree. I guess they fulfill the role of avatars or mythic heroes these days. It's all a very strange thing.

Public figures..

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Joyce Carol Oates' novel Blonde? Essentially it's a huge piece of fanfiction about Marilyn Monroe, but it was quite well-received when it came out a few years back. I always think about it when I hear about people debating fanfiction, that and Being John Malkovich, which was obviously made with the actor's particpation, but also was about the blending of public and private identity.

No. But I do remember the book and that's a good point. Actually there's been a lot of published fictionalized accounts of movie stars, public figures, and statesmen over the years. The interesting thing about Marilyn Monroe was she created a public persona, changed her name, dyed her hair - so that the real Marilyn no one really knew until she was long dead. Carey Grant and John Wayne did the same thing - creating public identities.
Can't help but wonder how many celebrities do that today? Create a public persona in order to protect themselves?

Being John Malvovick is an interesting film - because it is in a way a satire or commentary on: the cult of the celebrity. John Cusak's character is momentarily able to become famous and obtain his heart's desire by becoming John Malvovich, literally inhabiting the actors body. In John Malvovich, Cusak's character can achieve the fame and fortune he couldn't as himself - he manipulates Malvovich's body to do the things he desires, sleep with the people he wants. In a way his manipulation is akin to writing fanfiction. But it doesn't last because eventually Cusak is kicked out and becomes lost in baby's head, always watching never participating - a perpetual voyeur.

I love our MEverse actors to non-literal bits but I have a feeling they don't get recognized that much outside of these events.

Some of them do apparently. According to a couple reports - JM, SMG, and DB have gotten pestered a few times outside their homes. I know SMG had to change living quarters in Australia at one point. And JM has had a few scarey situations.

Re: Public figures..

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

I actually had an incredibly bizarre experience when I saw Being John Malkovich for the first time, and it ties into your topic. After the movie I left my friends and was walking home when I ended up in front of a group of guys. I overheard their conversation which was quite odd - they were talking about the reaction of a woman in a restaurant, asking one of their group how he felt about that, if he had been embarrassed. The man replied that he had thought about stuff like that for years but he had decided that he had been working to achieve success and things like that were a marker of it, a sign that he had a connection with people.

By this point I was dying to turn around, since I wasn't sure if the guys were having me on because they realized I was eavesdropping or if there really was a Famous Person behind me (and again picture this happening after watching John Malkovich). I started to slow down in hopes that they would pass me but they went into a bar. I circled back to try and see but I couldn't bring myself to actually follow them into the bar. Of course I ended up calling the place to see if anyone famous had been in. It was Lou Diamond Phillips. Everyone agrees that the story was better without finding out who it was but what can you do.