The Celebrity Concept

As we all have come to see, celebrities plaster the walls of our visual culture like couture wallpaper always ready for a fresh layer. Unnaturally white teeth, smooth faux-tanned skin, and designer clothing is the usual composite of the typical superstar drudged up by the average person; however, there needs to be a critical lens taken to the way in which culture views the idea of the celebrity and how they affect other decisions. There are many categories that celebrities fall under but the general definition of celebrity is a person who is widely known and commands a high degree of public or media attention. Few celebrities become known globally but those who do usually cross cultural and linguistic boundaries and tend to be prominent political figures, actors, artists, and musicians. However there has been rise in worldwide celebrity due to rapid globalization, such as the internet, a media in which a celebrity can reach a new and vast audience.

As mentioned previously, there are many types of celebrities not just the traditional Pop Music idols or legendary actors. Each region has its own system of celebrity due to the attention given by the media in a specific community. These celebrities may include local newscasters, local politicians, area personalities, strong leaders in the community, even regional athletes. All of which can strongly influence the decisions and the lives of that specified area because of their designated status as a role model. As much as a local celebrity can have site specific influence, the nationally or globally known celebrity can influence and shape our visual culture as a whole. Our national celebrities are seen at every convenience store and grocery store check lane in America, every time you turn on the television, and each time you pay $9 to see the next blockbuster. It almost seems that celebrity influence is inescapable. The idea of celebrity and today’s media are intermeshed in our visual culture. The dissection the role of the celebrity, how they communicate, and how they function in our society will lend to the understanding of the shaping of our culture’s decisions.