Celebrity in Culture and Media by Graeme Turner
A celebrity is someone who has achieved fame and broad public recognition, usually as a result of being famous in film, music, TV, or other forms of entertainment. Whether positive or negative, this status often leads to a sense of awe and fascination, especially among teens. Celebrities may influence teenagers in a variety of ways, both good and bad, and it's important for parents to help teens sort through the many messages that celebrities can send.Celebrity has a long history and is found in cultures all over the world. It was first a feature of Hollywood, where the film industry created celebrities and made them a major part of the culture of movies. By the 1930s, movie stars were well known and respected. Despite attempts to control their image, celebrities were still popular and had a significant impact on society and culture.While it has often been difficult to define what constitutes a celebrity, the term is generally used to describe individuals who are famous or have broad public recognition for their work in film, music, TV and other forms of entertainment. It may also refer to groups such as sports teams or business management partnerships, and to events such as the Olympics.In the early modern period, increased literacy and cheaper and faster printing enabled more people to become public intellectuals and have a reputation for their writing. Authors such as Rousseau, Byron and Voltaire were famous for their works but also for who they were as persons. These early celebrities sought fame and were sometimes even stalked by their fans.Modern social theory has tended to analyze celebrity as a form of idolatry or a cult of personality. Those who seek celebrity are often seen as inferior and distorted versions of normal human beings. This analysis has a long history and has been influential. More recent studies have developed an alternate model. They have examined the active role that audiences play in the development of celebrity and have looked at the full range of contemporary media, including films, television, newspapers and magazines.In this book, Graeme Turner brings together these various perspectives to produce an original and compelling study of celebrity. It offers a wide-ranging survey of the entire field and will be welcomed by students of celebrity, culture and media. It is a unique and invaluable contribution to the study of this most pervasive of modern phenomena.