FYI: Here's a link to an article in BBC News re: how younguns over there are buying into celebrity culture hook-line-and-sinker. (Turns out this isn't an America-only phenomenon...who knew?!) Here's the sub-head on the article: "Children's educational aspirations risk being damaged by the cult of celebrity, teachers' leaders have warned."
Innarresting...
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Despite my hatred for celebrity idolization and celebrity involvement in politics, a majority of American celebrities are actually well educated. In fact Madonna was a straight A high school student and pursed a dance career in New York after her sophomore year of college (but I guess an education can't help common since). Even more impressive Ben Affleck graduated from the University of Vermont and Occidental College and Matt Damon attended Harvard before his pursuit of acting.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is with over-idolized celebrities who only strive to be recognized by whatever means necessary even though it reflects badly on them. Beside how does someone like Paris Hilton become famous anyway...oh wait, sex tapes. At least she has a GED. Britney Spears is a high school drop out, should she really need people following her example?
Michael, what do you think about the residual effect of celebrity on kids today, though? Matt Damon's academic exploits aren't what most people know about him. This article suggests that kids seem to think it's commonplace (and easier) to be rich and famous and idolized, and that they are then less inclined to take their academic work seriously. Do you buy that?
ReplyDeleteNot everyone can be famous. Just think how many really really famous and rich celebrities exist in this world? Yes, becoming a Hollywood movie star is one way to “success” and riches. But it’s probably one of the harder ways. On that road, many things are out of your control. It’s probably easier to achieve a “comfortable” life (have several big houses, nice cars, etc.) if you study hard and become a brain surgeon or something.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the article, 75% of teachers said celebs have good and bad influences on kids. I agree. There are lots of hard working and well educated singers/actors out there. But the media pays more attention to wild celeb behavior. Wang Lee Hom, an American Born Chinese singer, made a perfect on the SAT is not as interesting as Edison Chen’s sex scandals (At least to most people; I, on the other hand, really want that perfect SAT score.) May be the media is more responsible than the movie stars themselves?
The “findings” of these surveys aren’t really anything new. Not to me, anyway. The schools that were polled were elementary/high schools, I assume, and at that age, kids tend to pick fairly questionable role models. But kids reach a certain age and then they snap out of it. They find their own interests and pursue them. I wanted to be Selena when I was in elementary school (minus the tragic death), but then I grew up. Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteIt may be true that students neglect their work because they’re too concerned with being the next internet celebrity, but “’perverting children’s aspirations’”? The reactions that officials have to these surveys seem much too severe. Idolization is part of being a celebrity. And kids will look up to whoever is liked the most because they want to have that type of attention.