Is Celebrity Worship a Bad Thing?

Many people are blind-sighted and tricked into being sucked into the world of celebrities and reality tv. This occurrence is known as celebrity worship syndrome and it can have many detrimental effects. Research has found that celebrity worship syndrome and an addiction to celebrities “has likewise been conceptualized as a search for a solid identity and social role ... and compulsive and obsessional elements are noted at advanced stages of addiction ... Thus, while absorption can partially account for the vividness of delusions related to dissociative experience ... the progression along our hierarchy of celebrity worship might reflect increases in the thresholds of the need and capacity of psychological absorption” (Rockwell). The absorption-addiction model that Rockwell references describes the parasocial relationship of a celebrity and a fan. Typically, due to deficits in a person’s life, a fan will become absorbed into a celebrity's following in order to escape their current life and they eventually become addicted. If an obsession with a celebrity is left unchecked it has the possibility to spiral into thoughts or behaviors that can be harmful to the fan and

Many people get stressed and the only way to get their mind off is by celebrities. In Palmers essay, he states, “We teenagers are passionate—maybe even obsessed—about our favorite stars, but that doesn’t make it a big problem (...)” (14). This means that we look up to celebrities and there is nothing wrong with it. He later states “[...] and it doesn’t mean we want to copy their bad behaviors.” (14). In Kings article she says that celebrities can affect the way we behave. But, as Palmer demonstrates, being obsessed is no big deal.

For example, in the article “Advertising and Image” researchers say that 23% of models weigh less than the average female and because of this 80% of 10-year old girls report having dieted. This happens because teens try to become just like the models on tv and magazine ads.

One may believe that slim celebrity pictures make people avoid being that weight, while it is also believed that these celebrities may be causing a weight drop in people around the world. Kelly Cutrone, owner of People’s Revolution, states that models are born with the characteristics needed to model, and these models are not unhealthy. Also, Psychologist Douglas Bunnell states that stars simply show the horrors of eating disorders, and how people should avoid disorders of this kind. However, it seems as though the models are underweight as many have passed out because of dehydration. In refutation to Bunnell, it seems, through studies, that smaller celebrities inspire young people to become the

In the essay, “Celebrity Bodies,” Daniel Harris claims that the reason for celebrities distorted and unhealthy portrayal of beauty, shown through eating disorders and plastic surgery, is because “we [Americans] demand that popular culture be virtuous.” Harris emphasizes the expectation of perfection that normal people want celebrities to obtain by describing an instance in which Americans criticized Kate Bosworth and Cleo Glyde for eating only lettuce and a green grape diet (“three for breakfast, two for snakes, and six for binges”) while “we [the American people] develop diabetes and arteriosclerosis on our sofas.” Harris contrasts the strict diets of celebrities with sedentary lifestyle of average citizens in order to show that Americans

People will go to great lengths to be close to the stars of Hollywood. It drives some people insane. That drive for fame and power leaves a lasting impression on the landscape and on lives for decades.

Today, those who acquire abundant talent recurrently attract a lot of attention, and those who are lucky enough, become famous for their talent. The once humble person, after acquiring fame, begins to become very popular, and their whole life changes. That person’s personality begins to alter, changing them into arrogant monsters, and their desire for more fame grows exponentially. Soon, the quest for fame leads to destruction by unintentionally chasing pride, the fame monster. This is evident in the epic poem Beowulf, and in the articles “The Fame Motive” and “A Phenomenology of Fame.”

In the article, entitled “The Impact Celebrities Have on Our Lives,” Deborah King establishes the reasons why being overly obsessed with celebrities can lead to bad habits. To begin with, King points out that everyone is too obsessed with celebrities. The article indicates that the younger the audience, the more likely they will try to be like them and want what they have. Furthermore, King writes that even though there are positive celebrities out there, people seem to be more obsessed with the celebrities that make bad influences on people. In addition, she emphasizes that even though there are celebrities that seem like good role models for their audience, they have a private life that no one seems to know about. As a result, King concludes

Being a celebrity has now become a culture. Even though those who are a part of society may not get to meet those who are famous or infamous there is still a need to be entertained. In the past this entertainment came from men and women who achieved something great, now it comes from them being involved in entertainment such as reality television programs, and those who are just simply famous. The author, Marcus S. Levy, questions the enigma why society is entertained by those who entertain us. The possibility entertainment is an addiction for people the same way drugs or alcohol is. Levy shares his thoughts on how society is entertained by the entertainers and the shift of whom are considered to be entertainers of today. This source is biased

In the article, “ The Impact Celebrities Have On Our Lives,” Deborah King explores the issue of celebrities impacting our lives, both negatively and positively. To begin with, she mentions that, today, we are overly obsessed with celebrities, whether they are positive or not. The author demonstrates that negative celebrities are more well-known than positive celebrities since they are mentioned on the news due to their salacious actions. Furthermore, King mentions that there are many positive celebrities that are famous despite the negative ones. In addition, she emphasizes that even positive actions performed by celebrities can get on the news, not just negative actions are publicised. Finally, King concludes the article by mentioning that

A “Good” Obsession A lot of people feel that celebrity obsessions are good and healthy. This is what Collin Palmer, in his short essay response to Deborah King, argues. I, however, disagree with Palmer because one simple celebrity obsession can ruin someone’s life.

This picture is a perfect portrayal of celebrity culture in today’s era. The desire to be virtually ‘connected’ and share everything in one’s life is the new trend. And this has resulted from the constant competition from the new community of ‘microcelebrities’, which is based on achieving fame through broadcasting oneself through media. One of the demeaning aspect of the picture is the lack of genuineness and enforcement of stylish lifestyle on the audience which makes it loose the emotional quotient.

Have you ever wondered what influences us to behave the way we do? Look a certain way? Or even looked for an explanation to what causes us to apply a certain perspective regarding personal and controversial issues? One of the answers to these questions may revolve around the influence we absorb from celebrities. A definitive term for celebrity is an iconic figure to a category or group who has achieved success in one or multiple aspects of their lives. As a result, these individuals have drawn in publicity and fame. Over the years with the advances in media and other forms of communication, celebrities have become topics of discussion worldwide, rather if it’s at school, with colleagues or at the dinner table, it is fair to say that

Celebrities are everywhere in the news, the latest gossip appears in the weekly magazines without fail. Whether they be an actor, athlete, dancer, designer, model, singer or just rich; there is someone out there who is watching that person like a hawk, not letting a single breath go unnoticed. Such is the life of the rich and famous, under the incessant gaze of journalists and the paparazzi. Lives that many people take a great interest in and admire to the point where others would liken this great interest and admiration to a cult-like worship of celebrities. This is a brief description of what I think to be celebrity culture.

The media influences body images. Having the perfect body image is posted everywhere from the television networks to magazines. Social media such Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, have a significant role in an adolescent's life. Anyone in the social network can post videos such as makeup tutorials, ads, dieting supplements. One example of how adolescent react to celebrities is when Kylie Jenner posted on social media on how she gets her big lips.Using a cup and putting it around your mouth, leaving it like that for about five minutes. Saying after, your lips are