{"id":2956,"date":"2012-10-31T09:16:03","date_gmt":"2012-10-31T13:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.re-integrate.org\/?p=2956"},"modified":"2012-10-31T09:16:03","modified_gmt":"2012-10-31T13:16:03","slug":"faux-fame-or-worthy-celebrity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reintegrate\/2012\/10\/31\/faux-fame-or-worthy-celebrity\/","title":{"rendered":"Faux Fame or Worthy Celebrity?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In a chapter on\u00a0celebrity<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0in the excellent book,\u00a0A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00a0by Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor, the authors focused both on the human need for heroes and the contemporary problem of faux fame.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cCelebrities perform a valuable social and theological function. Celebrities sharpen our ideals, bear our disappointments, and promote our hopes of immortality. The problem does not reside in celebrity itself but in the shifting sands of our criteria for fame. Rather than labeling stars as idols to be resisted, I consider some stars secular saints that deserve to be celebrated, maybe even venerated.\u201d (p. 90)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The problem is that we\u2019ve forgotten the original definition of \u201cfame,\u201d which comes from a Latin root roughly translated as \u201cmanifest deeds.\u201d (p. 95) Fame was reserved for those who \u201cdeserved it.\u201d But most celebrities today are the product of the mass media and publicists. Several years ago, David Boorstin poignantly wrote,<\/p>\n

\u201cShakespeare divided great men into three classes: those born great, those who achieved greatness, those who had greatness thrust upon them. It never occurred to him to mention those who hired public relations experts and press secretaries to make themselves look great.\u201d (The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America<\/a><\/em>, 1961, quoted on p. 95)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Craig Detweiler, a screenwriter and Hollywood insider, talks about his encounter with Paris Hilton.<\/p>\n

\u201cI first encountered Paris and her younger sister at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. At virtually every party I waited to enter, the Hiltons arrived with an entourage and immediately were whisked inside, past security, beyond the velvet rope\u2026 Was she an actress appearing in one of the films? A jury member handing our awards? No, just a hotel heiress with sufficient funds to retain an effective PR firm.\u201d (p. 105)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But there are indeed celebrities that are worthy of the title.<\/p>\n

The authors cite Oprah Winfrey and Bono.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n

\"\"\u201cBono turned his position as spokesman for U2 into a campaign highlighting third world debt relief\u2026 He has met with politicians as diverse as Vladimir Putin, Bill Clinton, Jesse Helms, and Kofi Annan\u2026 Yet on\u00a0The Charlie Rose Show,\u00a0<\/em>Bono shunned the label \u2018role model,\u2019 believing that his indulgences in alcohol, cigarettes, and profanity disqualify him. But like King David, Bono\u2019s failings are central to his music and his mission. Whether discussing his doubts (\u2018I Still Haven\u2019t Found What I\u2019m Looking For\u2019), shaking his fist at God (\u2018Wake Up Dead Man\u2019), or taking on the self-important trappings of celebrity (\u2018God Part 2\u2019), Bono\u2019s imperfections make him much more lovable and human\u2026 During an era in which everyone wants to be famous, he\u2019s proven that hard work, generosity, faith, and sincerity can still be celebrated, even in the midst of doubt.\u201d (pp. 121-2)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I interact with young adults just about every day in my college ministry. It seems to me that these young people are more astute to giving fame to those that are worthy of respect. For them, movie stars and musicians are given more status based more on the quality of their art and the integrity of their lives than on how physically attractive they are. However, I\u2019m sure that today\u2019s publicists do a large amount of work to massage the public perception of today\u2019s celebrities.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I think of James Franco, star of \u201c127 Hours\u201d and \u201cRise of the Planet of the Apes,\u201d who has been lauded by the media for being \u201ca modern-day Renaissance Man.\u201d Why? Because not only has be been pursuing a very successful acting career, he also attended graduate school at Columbia University, New York University, Brooklyn College and Warren Wilson College. He is currently taking classes at Yale University and the Rhode Island School of Design.<\/p>\n

The handsome star with a one-sided smile seems to have a lot going for him: looks, a genuine talent for acting, and a eclectic list of outside interests. But is he worthy of all the media attention, or is it all public relations smoke?<\/p>\n

Only time will tell.<\/p>\n

Detweiler and Taylor end the chapter by saying,<\/p>\n

\u201cMay we recover fame\u2014rooted in deeds, tested over time\u2014and imagine a future in which everyone is famous for all the right reasons.\u201d (p. 123)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a chapter on\u00a0celebrity\u00a0in the excellent book,\u00a0A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture\u00a0by Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor, the authors focused both on the human need for heroes and the contemporary problem of faux fame. \u201cCelebrities perform a valuable social and theological function. Celebrities sharpen our ideals, bear our disappointments, and promote our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2398,"featured_media":2957,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-and-entertainment","category-culture","category-media"],"yoast_head":"\nFaux Fame or Worthy Celebrity?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a chapter on\u00a0celebrity\u00a0in the excellent book,\u00a0A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture\u00a0by Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor, the authors focused\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reintegrate\/2012\/10\/31\/faux-fame-or-worthy-celebrity\/\" 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