What it Takes to Be a Celebrity

Who is a celebrity, and what does it take to be a celebrity? The word stems from the meaning ‘celebrated’. In other words, a celebrity is any famous (sometimes infamous!) person that received a lot of media attention and popular attention. Movies and celebrities are almost always inseparable.

These days, anyone can become a celebrity for a day, thanks to popular culture sites like YouTube. Some ordinary people try to do extraordinary things just to get in the news and be recognized worldwide. But a true celebrity is a person that achieves star status without having to go out of his/her way to get it. Most people agree that celebrities are really a creation of the media.

There are a few different types of celebrities. Some are known in a certain region or a country. Others are known worldwide. Michael Jackson belongs to the latter category and so does Sophia Loren. They are icons in their respective industries. Then there are the good-natured, positive celebrities and the reluctant ones. The more interest the public and mass media take in a person, the more his/her celebrity status rises.

The entertainment industry is the largest supplier and host of celebrities. Those involved in this business are typically talented, attractive and charismatic. They’ve learnt the art of appealing to masses; it’s their job. No wonder their every move is watched by paparazzi. In fact, celebrities fuel a thriving business. Many tabloid newspapers and gossip websites earn millions just by reporting anything and everything about celebrities. As long as this sort of news is in demand by the public, celebrities will be made.

So what do the entertainers feel about this celebrity-making business being a mass media phenomena? They need the media. They depend on it to promote their movies and to give attention to their talent. The unfortunate thing is, celebrities can’t control the media. They can’t control how much is given to the public. Sometimes, celebrity photographers can do wonders for a showbiz career. When celebrities are in the news regularly, fans become hungry for more. They feel like they know the person and want to get even closer. So it’s not enough to say the media alone creates celebrities. Popular culture is such that we always look up to beautiful, talented people and we want to be like them.

In the old days, celebrities came into being mostly through their hard work in music, films or other mediums. Nowadays, it’s more about the personal life-one’s looks, tastes, style and personal relationships. Stars like Paris Hilton are famous for being famous. Their escapades make headlines in the news. The media not only meets the demand of teenyboppers and other fans- they force us with more information that we need until it gets to a point where we don’t care whether that information is silly or irrelevant.

Article summary- Celebrities are people who are regularly in the news and who inspire great interest in their lives. They are created by popular culture (the demand of the public) and the mass media.