Why Do We Need Celebrities?

Why do we need celebrities?

One day, while trying to think of a celebrity to interview, I went through a philosophical crisis. I wondered : Why do we need celebrities? Who ever came up with the idea of making people into stars? And why do we idolize them?

People think my profession is so glamorous because I have the opportunity to interview stars. I have to admit that when I first started, I was extremely excited about that aspect of my job _ for the first couple of months at least.Then I noticed how celebrities would irritate me endlessly, rescheduling our interviews or completely backing out at the last minute. I could never get enough time with a celebrity to find out anything interesting, and when I met them, I often found them arrogant and rude.

I started becoming resentful about the way I was being treated, and was terribly disappointed to see that these people, who I had worshipped from afar, were quite ordinary. So I decided I would just tell the truth about them instead of perpetuating the myth of their extraordinary talent and charismatic personalities. Now, if the celebrities is a fool, I say so. If I think anyone is stupid, untalented or pretentious, I do not hold back that information. I think most readers appreciate that kind of honesty. There are, of course, those that despise me for it.

Often fans will talk about film stars such as Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant and Winona Ryder as being their heroes. However, a celebrity is not the same thing as a hero. Heroes existed long before celebrities ever did, even though celebrities now outshine heroes in the public consciousness. The traditional definition of a hero is someone who sacrifices himself or herself for a higher purpose: to save other people, support an idea, or even, in the case of religious figures, redeem mankind. Now what, I ask, are most films stars doing to redeem humanity? Nothing. Still they are adored.

As a result, people without talent become celebrities all the time. No one in my walk of life seems to care about achievement or talent _ fame is the only objective. Everyone wants to be famous, because in our society you are not considered a success unless you are famous, no matter what your career. Even being related to someone famous is considered more desirable than being truly creative and talented, but obscure.

What is more, I have learned that worshipping celebrities leaves you with a distinctly empty feeling.

On the other hand, admiring true heroes inspires people to both help themselves and benefit society at large. In my opinion, one of the reasons we worship celebrities is that, as a whole, our society is not as committed as it once was. I don’t assume to have all the answers, but it seems that people need something to fulfill themselves _spirituality, art, or some other higher goal. Celebrity worship is a pure substitute.