User:AbelBergaigne/celebrity

Celebrity ce·leb·ri·ty – noun, plural -ties 1. a famous or well-known person. 2. fame, renown Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English < Latin celebritās multitude, fame, festal celebration, equivalent to celebr- (stem of celeber ) often repeated, famous + -itās -ity Related forms: non·ce·leb·ri·ty, noun, plural -ties. Synonyms: distinction, note, eminence, stardom.

Description

A celebrity (also referred to as a celeb in popular culture) is a person who has a prominent profile in the media and is easily recognised. Celebrity status might be associated with certain professions and frequent appearances in the media. It can arise as a result of career planning but it can also arise by accident or as a result of infamy.

Instances in history

Among the earliest instances of celebrity were winners of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Winners of the games promoted their fame by commissioning hymns praising their exploits.

In Ancient Rome portraits of powerful men were imprinted on coins. Works of art bearing their likenesses further enhanced their fame. The fame of certain actors, such as Quintus Roscius Gallus, endured until the 19th Century. Gladiators also could gain considerable fame and news of their victories was spread by word of mouth.

In the twelth century news of the murder of Thomas a Becket, archdeacon of Canterbury, spread across Europe. Relics and images of Becket became commonplace. Beckett’s portrait was found from Iceland to Palestine. Manuscripts, wall paintings and stained glass were decorated with scenes of the saint's life. Beckett’s reputation has endured to the present. TS Eliot wrote about his death in Murder in the Cathedral in 1935, and a popular film was made in 1964.

In the 16th and early 17th centuries, repeated performances of Shakespeare’s plays helped to ensure his fame. Writers gained recognition as literacy levels improved and reading became a form of entertainment

In the Victorian era, authors such as Charles Dickens increased the popularity of their stories by serialising them in newspapers and magazines, thereby enhancing their own fame. The expansion of media channels in the late 20th century led to increased exposure for celebrities. In the early 21st century there are more celebrities than previously. Subsets Celebrities are known mainly in regions that share similar cultural values. Regions within a nation with their own distinctive culture, such as Quebec, might have their own celebrities. Media commentators and journalists refer to celebrities as A-List, B-List, C-List, D-List or Z-List. These rankings indicate a placing within a hierarchy. A celebrity might have different rankings in different regions. A method of ranking celebrities from A-List to H-List based on the number of Google searches she or he receives has been proposed,[1] but this proposal has not been widely accepted.

Professions associated with celebrity Certain professions are associated with celebrities. Film stars and television actors with leading roles are likely to become celebrities. High-ranking politicians, business people, national television reporters, radio personalities, daytime television show hosts, supermodels,[2] and successful popular musicians are also likely to become celebrities. Representatives of humanitarian organisations such as Mother Teresa can achieve widespread fame. Some people have achieved fame online and are known as Internet celebrities.

Celebrity families

Members of certain families are accorded celebrity status simply because they are members of these families. They include the Kennedy, Windsor, Osborne, Chaplin, Barrymore, Hilton, Bush and Jackson families.

Critical studies

Celebrity has been the subject of academic study since the 1970s. According to Sofia Johansson[citation needed] the principle texts on stardom include Daniel Boorstin's The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America (1961) and articles by Boorstin (1971), Alberoni (1972), and Dyer (1979)[vague] which examine the representations of stars and the Hollywood star system. Johansson notes that "more recent analyses (e.g. Gamson 1994; Marshall 1997; Giles 2000; Turner, Marshall and Bonner 2000; Rojek 2001; Turner 2004[vague]) deal with the idea of a pervasive, contemporary, celebrity culture."[citation needed] Bob Greene records that, with the rise of reality TV shows, audiences have assumed creative roles. He argues the "alleged stars of reality shows have become famous not for doing, but merely for being."[3] "Celebrities often have fame comparable to royalty," claimed[citation needed] author Micha Frydman. As a result, there is a public curiosity about their private affairs; their successes and shortcomings are made public; and praise for their virtue and criticism for their failings tend to be exaggerated. Frydman notes that celebrities can be portrayed with above average abilities and endowed with expert knowledge. Frydman further notes that, in order to maintain their public profile and enhance earnings, some celebrities participate in commercial ventures such as branded books, clothing, perfume and household items. Chris Hedges' Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle (2009) is a critique of celebrity culture in whicjh he criticizes its moral nihilism.

15 minutes of fame Andy Warhol coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame", meaning that celebrity status can be short-lived and to some extent arbitrary. A normal person can become a celebrity by being in the right place at the right time. Reality show contestants might belong in this category.

Social networking Celebrities make extensive use of social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace [6] to communicate directly with their fans. Social media present the personal lives of celebrities in ways that are intended to stimulate public interest.

Preferred jurisdiction Because California has a concentration of celebrities centred on Hollywood, the California Legislature has enacted laws to deal with celebrities' legal problems, such as the California Celebrities Rights Act. Many U.S.-based celebrities choose to file for divorce in California as judges there are experienced in handling high-profile divorces.