by Jessie Bahrey

Created on: April 09, 2009   Last Updated: April 11, 2009

While I personally am weary of the amount of media attention paid to so-called 'beautiful people,' I don't believe we as a society can wean ourselves from the obsession with the lives of celebrities, even those famous solely for being famous. Certainly, in the best of times, following the happenings of the rich and famous is highly entertaining, especially if we find that our own lives are uninteresting by comparison; in these tough economic times, following celebrities' lives is a form of escapism that many need to partake in just to get through their day. As long as there are beautiful people being public ally scrutinized, any backlash against them will be quiet and sparse.

Most of us sneak glances at the tabloids and celebrity magazines at the grocery check-out, even if we don't actually buy them. I admit to knowing most of the names of Bradgelina's children, much to my chagrin. I do enjoy catching the occasional update on these beautiful people, mostly because I don't have the money and power to do the things they do, and things I would like to do, such adopt needy children or build homes for people in New Orleans. Even the not so nice beautiful people, like Britney and Amy Winehouse, are interesting because their public meltdowns somehow seem like payback of a sort for their spoiled and reckless behavior. Most observers, I believe, have a secret desire to see good people rewarded and bad people punished. And of course, the media insures that we see it all, the good and the bad, because our morbid fascination with everything celebrity sells, and the bottom line is always money. While I do feel sorry for some celebrities in certain situations, like during family tragedies when they cannot escape the rabid press, I also believe that with fame and fortune come a certain obligation to behave in a responsible manner, and I have little sympathy for those who don't.

There are studies suggesting that during times of economic turmoil, people not only still go to movies or rent them for home viewing, but that more people do so. Sociologists argue that people need escapism more than ever when they face uncertainty in their own lives. Seeing pretty people with their gorgeous clothes and expensive cars transports us, however briefly, out of our gritty, tough lives to a happier place. Obviously, there is a growing backlash against those who have played a role in our world's economic woes, and who have become wealthy at others' expense, but most of us do not necessarily begrudge the movie stars and others in the entertainment industry their wealth. These beautiful people have neither stolen money nor defrauded anyone, and have not made their fortunes on the backs of those less fortunate. Therefore, they are and remain fascinating to the general public.

Eventually, reality television and stars who have no useful purpose other than to gain attention will become boring and will fall off the public radar. This backlash, for me, would be entirely justified and welcome. Having beautiful people, who actually perform something, anything, be the only celebrities covered by the media would be a welcome change. However, until we as a society stop purchasing the magazines and watching the shows, all the famous people, deserving or not, will be constantly in our collective faces, despite any backlash.

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