Breaking News: Britney's knickers are showing!
While I am sure that Brits finds it flattering that her hemline is of more importance than yet another war in the Middle East and the release of yet more un-named paedophiles into society, one has to wonder what on earth is going on in the strange minds of tabloid editors.
We live in a Celebrity Culture; in today's society, celebs are the closest thing we have to aristocracy now, our modern uber-class, if you will. It is human nature to devour any news of those who regularly fall from grace, greedily grabbing onto any hints of orange-peel skin, embarrassing tan faux-pas,a botched boob job.
Why? Because in our society, celebrities are our pedestal. They seem almost god-like, rich, with a strange power that even our most formidable politicians do not seem to possess.
More people seem to pay attention to Bob Geldorf's speeches about the environment than David Cameron. While celebrities do not ask for this particular power, it seems that they use it irresponsibly. Our nation's media enhance and hone these creatures to perfection, creating the perfect man or woman, our paragon, our ideal. And what is the only thing better than building up a tremendous idol? Bringing it back down to our level and destroying it, of course.
As to the effect the afore-mentioned celebrities have upon our society? I have to say it's mostly negative. Although they do not ask for the amount of attention they receive, they maintain an image that is terrifying. To me, celebrities are symbolic of an age where beauty, where fashion and superficiality are more important than your education, than your sense of self.
The world of the celebrity is one where drugs, sex and beauty are traded on a daily basis. Social and physical capital are more important than educational capital. Models throw themselves at photographers in the hopes of securing a fashion shoot. Celebrities snort cocaine, drink vast amounts of alcohol, ingest mounain of sleeping pills often at the encouragement of their agent, who recommends that they go a fewe days without eating to speed up their metabolism. Celebrities strike me as being eternal children, particularly those who have been introduced to the lifestyle at an early age. Psychologically, people only grow up by living through the tough times that life throws at you. Celebrities live in a cushioned world where little of this registers.
And their selfish attitude encourages others in society to think the same way.
As much money as they want, as many admirers as they want, they can sleep with whoever they want (and often do) - what challenges have they in their lives? No wonder they think they are invincible. And let's face it, most celebrities seem to get away with murder. (No O.J jokes, I promise.)
As a nation, we watch the celebrities, we are hungry for their downfall. We watch gleefully as women (certainly most of whom are anorexic) are pictured taking drugs. We watch our idols being destroyed and we enjoy it too.
This in itself, is an unsettling view of society. What is worse?
We admire the celebrity culture. Oh, we do. Who doesn't wish they could be part of that lifestyle? One of luxurious over-indulgence. More and more young women are having breast enhancements, dying their hair blonde, attending famous clubs in the hopes that a Third Division football player will take an interest. More and more young women seem to aspire to be WAGs rather than well-rounded and happy human beings.
Whether they ask for it or not, celebrities are role models. They should remember to behave as such. The behaviour of some celebrities is unspeakable. How many charges has Pete Doherty gotten away with now? Kate Moss? Britney Spears? Amy Winehouse? Paris Hilton? Looking at these people, I see some seriously psychologically damaged human beings who desperately need help. However they do not receive it, because they believe they do not need it. Why do they believe this? Because it is the way we as a society encourage them to act by allowing them to get away with the things they do.
People are aspiring to be celebrities. The question is: why?