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with the celebrity and that some of their perceived happiness will now be past onto the consumer. So to look at it one way, the cult of celebrity is really nothing more that a sophisticated marketing scheme.

But these allegiances with celebrities can have more dire consequences. With the constant quest for image perfection, cosmetic surgery is widely regarded as the quickest way to "perfection". Cosmetic surgery is almost like a quota to be checked on route to becoming a celebrity. In fact, some people have been awarded celebrity status because of their obsession with surgery. That cat faced woman, Lola Ferrari and Jordan are just a few examples of people who society and the media have deemed worthy to gain celebrity status. Un-pc freak shows have been taken out of seedy circuses and projected into mainstream media. These people obviously have some very serious self image issues that need to be addressed through some kind of counselling, not through bodily mutilation. Self image cannot be improved through surgery because as soon as you modify your body in such a way, you are essentially not you any more. You are not changing to be happy with yourself; you are changing to "fit in" with societies, media influenced, perception of beauty.

This celebrity obsession with cosmetic surgery is now filtering through to society as a whole. Since 1997 cosmetic procedures have risen by 465%, with surgical procedures (Breast augmentation, face lift) rising by 118% and non-surgical (Botox, chemical peel) procedures rising by an unconceivable 764%. With celebrity endorsement and the notion of "well everybody is doing it these days", people are coming to the misguided conclusion that cosmetic surgery is safe. Especially in the case of "non-surgical" cosmetic "surgery". Although it may not be surgery in the true sense of the word, it can still cause serious complications. Chemical peels can be incorrectly applied causing extensive scaring to the face and botox can be incorrectly administered leaving the face completely paralyzed and causing the face to droop. But all this seems of no importance because you have to keep up with the Osbournes.

There also seems to be a worrying trend in celebrity endorsed political parties. Politics has fallen out of fashion with young people, so parties now have to appeal to them not by policies, but by celebrities. It's quite a worrying thought that people will vote for a party just because a celebrity does. "Hey kids, we pollute the world, sells arms to Iraq and kill little puppies for a giggle. Now here's Jordan..... It's just another celebrity endorsement that takes the complexity out of free thought and offers hope to the hopeless. Vote Labour, drink coke and buy an iPod and you too can be just like Jade Goody and be famous for being an idiot.

Celebrity though cannot be blamed for all negative aspects of society. In reality society is to blame. We are the people who seemed to have lost the ability to think for ourselves. I suppose it's easier to be told what to think, rather than challenging what we are told. It is society who elevates these vain, one-dimensional, image obsessed freaks to god like status. The reason we are swamped by celebrity is because there is a demand for it. We have a choice. A choice to say no and a choice to respect people who deserve it.

Learn more about this author, Christopher Boot.
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