"Celebrity" - the Irresponsible American Media

Post by **Doreen Peri** » February 17th, 2007, 2:18 pm

Not to be disrespectful to the tragic life and death of Anna Nicole Smith but what exactly was her claim to fame? Large breasts? Marrying a wealthy man old enough to be her great grandfather? Why was she a celebrity and why is her death a more important story for the media to cover than the death of anybody else? What about the soldiers and civilians dying every day in Iraq? Isn't THAT more newsworthy? Aren't their lives as important?

Sure, she was beautiful but is physical beauty enough to give a person celebrity status in America? There are a LOT of beautiful people!

Brittney Spears & Paris Hilton. Celebrities. Why? Because they're wealthy and get drunk and fall down in public? Because they pose for photos either scantilly clad or nude? Since when are wealth, alcoholism & substance abuse considered traits which are worthy of celebrity!? Is "party girl" now an ideal? Well, Brittney at least TRIED to sing!

Frankly, I'm offended by the way American media has created "celebrity" status out of those who have no achievements, no talents, and who are not worthy of looking up to.

Celebrities USED to be talented athletes or musicians, those who have achieved something positive and wonderful in their fields. Celebrity USED to be something special.

Now it's demeaning.

I hope I never get famous for anything I've done. I'd hate to achieve fame when fame means so very little.

I worry about the young ladies in America.... teens who actually look UP to the lifestyle of flaunting wealth and partying to the point of making a fool of yourself in public.

In my opinion, the American media is totally irresponsible. Our TV news reports look like a cross between a cheap supermarket gossip tabloid and a porn magazine.

Give me a break!

Post by **bohonato** » February 17th, 2007, 3:10 pm

To no shame
Never playing the fame game

Anna Nicole Smith's death has probably recieved more media coverage than Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Susan Sontag, James Brown, and Syd Barrett combined together (plus a few more who have left us over the past couple years). However, Smith does have the advantage half a billion dollars that is just floating around, and the somewhat mysterious death of her and her son. Hey! Its like a real live soap opera!

Post by **Doreen Peri** » February 17th, 2007, 10:07 pm

Yeah no doubt.. A real life soap opera. So freakin sad!

What's the frickin point?

MONEY!

It's all about money.

Human life has been diminished.

YES! Why did this woman (no offense to her tragic life & death.. no offense to her family).. but WHY is the news coverage so much MORE for her than for the others who you have listed who have died recently?

Or... as I said in my post.. those who are dying every day in Iraq?

It's insane. It's all insane.

MONEY runs the planet. It's very clear to me. What can we do about it?

Post by **e_dog** » February 18th, 2007, 3:49 am

We need porn stars for the same reason need causalities in war.. To remind us in this digital world that bodies still exist, even if only to be objectified, exploited, maimed, gassed, destroyed, buried.

Annorexia, bulimia, is a performance art. Kafka knew this.

Post by **jimboloco** » February 18th, 2007, 3:06 pm

article in the paper today comparing Abnna Nicole Smith with marlyn Monroe
\wasn't Ms Monroe friends with writers, playwrights, etc?
this babe here, Ms Smith, the article says, was most popular in countries where America is not well-liked, sort of a grabby greedhy persona, reinforces the gaudy aspect of pop-culture.\
i'll get the article later, at work,
stahying in toughch a bit. LATER!

Post by **Artguy** » February 18th, 2007, 5:01 pm

I oughta get drunk and fall down more often...maybe then my art will start selling more....

Post by **Doreen Peri** » February 18th, 2007, 5:29 pm

Yeah. Good idea, Artguy.

And do it naked.

Post by **stilltrucking** » February 19th, 2007, 10:56 am

I'd hate to achieve fame when fame means so very little.

"If you can't give me love and peace,
Then give me bitter fame." Anna Akhmatova

Post by **Doreen Peri** » February 19th, 2007, 11:42 am

Great quote!

Never heard of her, tho.

So much for fame.

Post by **e_dog** » February 19th, 2007, 4:38 pm

maybe she got peace and love!

great neil yong song....

Post by **Zlatko Waterman** » February 19th, 2007, 10:08 pm

Dear Doreen:

Anna Akhmatova ( a pseudonymn of Anna Gorenko) was the greatest female Russian poet of the twentieth century. She had a dalliance with Osip Mandelstahm, whom many consider the greatest male Russian poet of the twentieth century. There must have been some pretty good poetic pillow talk in that affair.

Mandelstahm's wife even forgave both of them later.

( A.A. Wiki page-- a good one biographically, with links to poems, some very badly translated . . .)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Akhmatova

She has long been a notable writer for me, and Mandelstahm made some wonderful poems during their relationship.

--Z

Post by **stilltrucking** » February 19th, 2007, 10:27 pm

From the title page.

Bitter Fame
A Life of Sylvia Plath
- by Anne Stevenson

"If you can't give me love and peace,
Then give me bitter fame." Anna Akhmatova

Post by **Doreen Peri** » February 19th, 2007, 10:35 pm

.
.
.
.
.Thanks, Zlatko! I'll check out the link!

Mr. Truckin' - From the title page of what? You mean the quote you have quoted is from the title page of the book by the name you're quoting by Sylvia Plath? Link, please? Sorry never read the book. Thanks. Who's Anne Stevenson? Is she the author of the book you're referring to with a title page that has a quote from the woman whose name I didn't know? Or did Sylvia Plath write the book? I'm very confused. Sorry. I'm trying to figure it out.

Post by **stilltrucking** » February 20th, 2007, 6:25 pm

The title of the Biography is Bitter Fame, the only reason I know of Anna Akhmatova is because Ann Stevenson used Bitter Fame as the title for her biography and she quoted those lines on the first page of the book.

Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

"Celebrity" - the Irresponsible American Media

"Celebrity" - the Irresponsible American Media

Who is online