Image via WikipediaLove 'em or hate 'em, we just can't get enough gossip about them and, so it would seem, the more malicious and condemning the better.
But why?
Somewhere along the line we've become more obsessed with who they are as opposed to what they do. Now, for sure, we'd all love to be aspirational to the masses for being the perfect combination of both, but, unfortunately it's very rare to ever find both ( the biggest fun at the office party is not necessarily the tour de force in the work place now are they?)
Let's face it, Movie Stars are just ordinary people who do an extraordinary profession - ( ''I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy asking him to love her'' - you know the Movie!), their very job is pretending to be someone they're not. What we don't seem to realise is that it's actually the 'illusion' that we love and aspire to, the face on the silver screen as opposed to the moron in the trailer.
So why then do we keep expecting extraordinary behaviour? And why do we then rejoice in finding out they're just as fragile, insecure, obnoxious and fallible as the rest of us? Wouldn't we all be so perfect with our very own team of script writers?
Should we not, therefore, just enjoy talent for talents sake? Berating Tom Cruise or John Travolta for their Scientology beliefs is like not liking Ray Winstone because he's a West Ham fan!! It doesn't really matter, does it?
I realise the world of celebrity is all the rage these days. Everyone famous is a celebrity and every celebrity is famous and, along the way, we've forgotten what real fame actually is. We've somehow decided to contrive the notion that everyone who's famous should be a role model. That they should have an insight into the ways of the world and to lead their lives as a faultless example to us all. Because they're famous and have a life of extreme wealth, privilege and prestige, a life that, let's face it, most people aspire to, that this somehow makes them worldly wise and beyond human error? The real problem with the famous is that we think we know them and if they ever dare stray from who we think they are, well, God help them!
But why should we expect so much from them? The success in their job has caused the fame. Their single minded, self involved, dogged determination (and usually a big dose of talent), has got them where they are. So when we find out that they're really self opinionated, single minded, ego maniacs, should this come as any real surprise?!
Role models should be made from 'real' people in 'real' professions. Professions that are built on true endeavour and real character, those people that really can and do make a difference. Doctors, nurses, soldiers, teachers,...(the list goes on & on), these professions don't hide behind the guise of someone else. They can't. Their character is the true heart of who and what they do.
The famous letting us down? Is it their fault that we built them up as role models in the first place? Shouldn't entertainers just be,.. entertaining? Escapist fun for us to escape to?
There's no such thing as mystery and intrigue anymore (JFK's campaign would never have got off the ground with today's 21st century vulture paparazzi ''serving the publics best interests'' as they devour yet another celebrity carcass!!). Let's face it, we now live in a culture of having celebrities being celebrities for being celebrities!? (What ever happened to talent?!)
Character should be scrutinised for many things, nearly every job demands it. But in the world of fiction, of make believe, I really don't want to care.
If Tom Cruise can make the Impossible possible, if John Belushi can make my sides split in Animal House, if Marlon Brando can make me check my bed before I get in it, then it's all good to me. Do I need to like or know the performer, or shouldn't I just be able to enjoy their performance?
When we were lucky enough to go to Disney, I didn't want to see or know who was in Mickey's costume, no sirree, I just wanted my children to meet the 6ft real life Mickey Mouse (and he cuddled my kids too, the beauty!)
I love my children's imagination and their belief in the fantastical and mythical.
A world where;
- Santa brings presents.
- Tooth Fairies pay good money.
- Super Heroes are Super.
- The world of Pixar is real.
- Disney World feels so real.
- And EVERYTHING is possible!!
As adults, we seem incapable of allowing ourselves to believe in anything so whimsical.We question and criticise and make judgements on everyone and everything, believing we have the right to know and believing we're making the world a better place for doing so. Why oh why do we constantly try and look inside the costume when it's just so much more fun to revel in the fiction.
Should reality ruin our fantasy?
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