Celebrity and celebrity culture

captured from http://www.indiatalkies.com/2011/02/global-celebrity-culture-fuelling-fear-insignificance-warns-psychologist.html 

As a result of media coverage and new visual technologies, the celebrity culture has been expanded. Over the globalisation and the new media emerged, the perception of the term celebrity had changed from the public. The ‘celebrity’ and ‘celebrity culture’ become ‘closer’ to the ordinary public. In this essay, the specular economy that extends from the contemporary celebrity culture will be introduced and discussed of it is influence on celebrity, celebrity culture. Also, the notion of celebrity and celebrity culture and its change will be explained to develop the trend of celebrity culture in today.  

The term of ‘celebrity’ is not simply a noun that refers to a famous or well-known person, but an adjective that signifies that someone possesses the quality of attracting attention (Furedi, 2010). People who are successful in virtually every profession are associated with celebrity status, such as the academic star of universities or the corporate CEOs (Furedi, 2010). ‘Celebrity’ had specifically referred to or been used in different period.

Today’s celebrities are accessible to ordinary public. In thirties and fifties, the typical celebrity was movie star or the sporting hero who have talent (Furedi, 2010). The accomplishment or moral fiber was a prerequisite to fame in past (Harris, 2012). However, at the new breed of celebrities, they became to fame by doing nothing and without talent. Paris Hilton claimed no talent apart from possible photogenicity, however, she still have a list connection kept her in the gossip columns and generated enough buzz for Fox to feature her in The Simple Life (Cashmore, 2006). Madonna, a famous single in the world, but her voice was believed to be electronically enhanced (Marshall, 2010). The celebrity status is now applied to person who famous for being famous. The ‘fame’ and ‘notoriety’ were massed up. The celebrities were distinguished to two groups. First, is the exceptionally talented and ‘self-made’ star, who made famous through their superior talents and abilities (Furedi, 2010). Second, is the unexceptionally talented and ‘manufactured’ celebrities, who gain the celebrity status through media publicity (Furedi, 2010). The latter disappear as fast they are constructed. The TV programming like Big Brother and X-factor are in the business which produced the ‘short life celebrity’ by involving the public into the production (Furedi, 2010).

The assembly line production of instant celebrities was seen as a positive development to ordinary public. In one hand, a disposable celebrity satisfied the imperatives of mass culture. On the others, the mass production brought a positive egalitarian opportunity to ordinary public to become fame (Furedi, 2010).  

The celebrities are no longer to be presented as special and untouchable. The celebrity culture was transformed from the powerful and the well-known into intimate and familiar figure (Furedi, 2010). Today’s celebrities ‘are celebrated for their unique personality and attractive qualities while appearing to treat them as normal people facing the humdrum problems and disappointments of everyday life.’ (Furedi, 2010). Furedi (2010) argue that the person who is prepared to disclose their private troubles and intimate are more likely to gain fame from the society. In Australian’s got talent, the contestant is asked the question like ‘what does this mean to you’? They are expected to share the kind of private feelings that resonates with the aspiration of audience to gain recognition. The Celebrity culture in the last century has been a very elaborate discourse on what is the reality side of the famous (Marshall, 2008). And now the technologies have produced a platform to dis course the private and the intimate.

The specular economy produced and manufactured ‘celebrities’. It is an extension of the celebrity economy in its mutation through new media, where collectively public are becoming more conscious of how to present themselves and how others perceive them (Marshall, 2008). Through new media, the online public personas are now constructed by the public. The specular economy reconstructed that the way of the self to reconstitute through the screens of engagement and interactivity that serve to organize and shape the lives (Marshall, 2008). However, the celebrity has changed the way that public personas are conveyed and celebrated (Marshall, 2008). As a result, the public personality system has been transformed by the specular economy.

Using the video to become a ‘celebrity’. The specular economy had grown on the socially front that an increasing desire to be part of the public sphere by a wider population (Marshell, 2010). The public desire to present oneself to others. In the specular economy, a YouTube video becomes a new ways for the public to get into the public consciousness and the realm of fame. A great number of groups or individual are become fame by posting their videos that were accessible to world through the internet. Amber Lee Ettinger is one of the YouTube celebrities who known as Obama Girl from the video I Got a Crush... on Obama. Here is a video from YouTube launched by ‘nigahiga’, ‘How to be a Youtube Celebrity’, it is not a serious video that really teaching audience how to be a YouTube Celebrity, but as a comedy video that attracted the audience to subscribe it.

A celebrity who is no attempt to be fame became a famous by others to expose. the specular economy also had grown on the technological front which refer to the democratization of the resources to record, exhibit and publicize had grown exponentially through the convergent uses of mobile media to capture moments and online media to display those same moments (Marshall, 2008). Hence, the public become the paparazzi or the journalist who can records and capture the moments, and distributing its online by mobile media and without permission. This constructed the kind of ‘manufactured’ celebrities. ‘Bus Uncle’ is one of the person who became a famous through media publicity which implicated by a mass of Hong Kong social media user. A conflict occurred while riding public bus 68X, was captured on video with his own mobile by a nearby passenger, and the video found its way on to the Web. The video has been watched more than five million times from YouTube.com. ‘Bus Uncle’ as the older man is now well-known.

More information about the ‘Bus Uncle’ event, read the article: 'Bus Uncle' craze in Hong Kong reflects city stress written by Geoffrey A. Fowler / The Wall Street Journal

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/world/bus-uncle-craze-in-hong-kong-reflects-city-stress-437127/

Or watched the video from YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsYRQkmVifg

In conclusion, the contemporary celebrity and celebrity culture have shifted in new way. To become a celebrity in today is much easier. A celebrity who has no talent and do nothing also can be fame. The celebrity culture are filled of celebrities who famous for being famous. Also, Minor celebrities are produced and manufacture by the media publicity and from the TV reality programming. An ordinary public have more opportunity to be fame. As the specular economy had grown, the celebrities produced and manufactured are affected by the public personas and the desire from public which is derived from the specular economy.

Reference:

Cashmore, E 2010, Celebrity/culture, Routledge, New York, pp. 2-4

Fowler, A.G 2006, 'Bus Uncle' craze in Hong Kong reflects city stress, The Wall Street Journal, retrieved 6 October 2012, < http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/world/bus-uncle-craze-in-hong-kong-reflects-city-stress-437127/#ixzz28tfWJiRb >

Furedi, F 2010, Celebrity Culture, Society. Vol. 47 Issue 6, pp. 493-497.

Harris, M 2012, Fame: a P&L Stardom’s changed. So have its benefits, New York Entertainment, retrieved 6 October 2012, < http://nymag.com/arts/all/celebrity-economy/fame-2012-2/ >

Marshall, P.D 2008, The Specular Economy, Society. Vol. 47, Issue 6, pp. 498-502.

Marshall, P.D 2010, Celebrity and Power, the University of Minnesota Press, United State, pp. x-xi

Uploaded by Chong, A 2006, ‘Hong Kong Bus Uncle with English and Mandarin Subtitles’, YouTube, retrieved 6 October 2012, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsYRQkmVifg >

Uploaded by nigahiga 2011, ‘How to be a Youtube Celebrity’, YouTube, retrieved 6 October 2012, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWENaab1-UI >

Week 8 Celebrity Culture

As a result of media coverage and new visual technologies, the celebrity culture has been expanded. Over the globalisation and the new media emerged, the perception of the term celebrity had changed from the public. The ‘celebrity’ and ‘celebrity culture’ become ‘closer’ to the ordinary public. In this essay, the specular economy that extends from the contemporary celebrity culture will be introduced and discussed of it is influence on celebrity, celebrity culture. Also, the notion of celebrity and celebrity culture and its change will be explained to develop the trend of celebrity culture in today.

The term of ‘celebrity’ is not simply a noun that refers to a famous or well-known person, but an adjective that signifies that someone possesses the quality of attracting attention (Furedi, 2010). People who are successful in virtually every profession are associated with celebrity status, such as the academic star of universities or the corporate CEOs (Furedi, 2010). ‘Celebrity’ had specifically referred to or been used in different period.

Today’s celebrities are accessible to ordinary public. In thirties and fifties, the typical celebrity was movie star or the sporting hero who have talent (Furedi, 2010). The accomplishment or moral fiber was a prerequisite to fame in past (Harris, 2012). However, at the new breed of celebrities, they became to fame by doing nothing and without talent. Paris Hilton claimed no talent apart from possible photogenicity, however, she still have a list connection kept her in the gossip columns and generated enough buzz for Fox to feature her in The Simple Life (Cashmore, 2006). Madonna, a famous single in the world, but her voice was believed to be electronically enhanced (Marshall, 2010).

Reference:

Cashmore, E 2010, Celebrity/culture, Routledge, New York, pp. 2-4

Furedi, F 2010, Celebrity Culture, Society. Vol. 47 Issue 6, pp. 493-497.

Harris, M 2012, Fame: a P&L Stardom’s changed. So have its benefits, New York Entertainment, retrieved 6 October 2012, < http://nymag.com/arts/all/celebrity-economy/fame-2012-2/ >

Week 7 What is the Blogosphere?

The blogosphere is a term used to describe the millions of interconnected blogs on the Internet. The term was first used in late 1999 as a joke, and continued to be used sporadically as a humorous term for the next few years. The blogosphere is a way of describing the social creature that grows from a critical mass of blogs.

So what’s so great about mining the blogosphere? What can you find in the world of blogs? I think I can sum it up in one word: people. Blogs are all about personal, customized content – what you read is what you get. For instance, I have a personal blog in which I write about my daily life with my family, my cats, and life in general. Sure, it’s probably not interesting to anyone but me, but it’s got that all-important element of “people” in it.

When you start poking around the blogosphere, you’re going to get a lot of blogs about cats (not kidding), but you’re also going to get blogs centered around someone’s political views, another person’s take on the latest fashion flubs, somebody else’s opinion on technology news, and so much more. The blogosphere is the personal side of the World Wide Web, and there’s definitely a lot to explore.

Week 6 Diasporic Culture

Diaspora cultures exist as a result of the dispersion of communities throughout the world; this dispersion is often forced or has historical reasons. Diaspora communities represent and maintain a culture different from those of the countries within which they are located, often retaining strong ties with their country and culture of origin (real or perceived) and with other communities of the same origin in order to preserve that culture. This is an essentially cultural phenomenon and is not necessarily linked to migration.

Some diaspora cultures, which have clear origins and are the result of enforced dispersions, are well documented, for example the Armenian, Greek, Irish, Italian and the Jewish diasporas and, more recently, the Balkan diasporas. However, the majority of countries throughout the world, and therefore most Council of Europe member states, in fact recognise their own diaspora culture. In addition, whilst some diaspora cultures are relatively unknown, the majority of member states are “host” to a great number of different diaspora cultures.

New forms of cultural practice in these societies address themselves to this project for the very good reason that, as Fanon puts it, in the recent past.

Colonisation is not satisfied merely with holding a people in its grip and emptying the native's brain of all form and content. By a kind of perverted logic, it turns to the past of oppressed people, and distorts, disfigures and destroys it.

Reference:

Frantz Fanon, 'On National Culture', in The Wretched of the Earth, London 1963,

pl70

Week 5 Diasporas and The Media

Diasporic population devoted to maintaining their home country tradition and coming to terms with new cultural and social value, it’s also seek to engage with the affairs of their ‘home’ country (ALC 215, p.3-4). In this condition, the technologies and media are being a critical agent for them to continue to maintain a social contact with the ‘home’ community and to engage with the ‘home’ affairs.

Technologies and media took a vital role in daisporic culture. Cyberspace is a significant ‘place’ where allow diasporic communities to exchange information and maintain relationship by form a ‘virtual neighbourhood’ (ALC 215, p.3). The internet communications are seen to be the new possibilities of democratic and rational public debate which allowing all to become ‘equal’ to speak (Sun, p.132). Hence, whether you are Migrants who are restricted the freedom of speech in origin country or have been suffered an unfair treatment because of a demographic factors, you allow to become ‘equal’ in internet. Social media are now a one of powerful tool that allow migrants to received information, to express opinion or even the ‘hate speech’, and thus to participate in the political activities of origin country.

photo credit: http://www.facebook.com/events/111167695699731/

By today’s hot issue in HK, ‘withdrawing the national education’, we can see that how social media become a communication tool for Migrants to compatriots at home, and how diasporic communities desire to engage with the politics of their countries of origin. HKSS is a Deakin student club who launched a signature campaign with others 8 universities in Australia to support the campaign in hk. And there are different supporting campaigns are held in the world as well.

Australian overseas higher education student (Hong Kong) joint statement: Requesting the Hong Kong government withdraw the Moral and National Education Curriculum Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/events/100141230141998/

 

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJRiYtKF64 by NTDTV

Reference

ALC 215 Study Guide, Topic 3, pp.3-4

Sun, W 2002, ‘Fantasizing the homeland: the internet, memory, and exilic longings’, Leaving China: media, migration, and transnational imagination 2002, Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, pp. 113-136

Week 4 The Olympics as a positive global event ?

The original aim of the Olympic Games was to show the physical qualities of the athletes who competed and to encourage good relations between cities across Greece. Up to now, this major international event is aim to encourage good relation between nation and nation.

Is it a positive global event? It is highlighting the global conflict OR transcending it? In my opinion, the global conflicts were raised during and after the games. In this games, the audience are sensible as this is an competition, they are standing for their own country. It emerge a contradictory state.

Several events in this London Olympic Games had become a conflict between country and country. In women football games, North Korean against Colombia, the flag of bitter rival South Korea was proudly shown on the big screens around the stadium. Thus, the North Koreans refused to play the match at the scheduled 7.45pa start time. It is become big news in all nation newspaper and be widely debate by people, not only the North and South Koreans, also in other Asia country as well.

Another event that lead to a global conflict.

‘Chinese swimmer’s result is questioned.’ By HLN.

The Global broadcasting also is the factor that lead to the possible of global conflict. People now not only can see the related report of Olympic games by their own nation TV corporation. They also can see the report from other nation TV through the media, such as interest (Youtube).

Week 3 My Global media Empire

 My global media empire will shift the main platform from traditional medium, such as newspaper to computer (internet), and further to the smartphone market. I think the smartphone will replace computer to be the main device people use to access to the information. However, the old media will be keep and transform to new way, such as transforming the paper newspaper into digital newspaper in smartphone device. ‘Each media sector operates according to specific conditions, traditions, practices and rules – true even for media operation within a transnational conglomerate’ (Steven, 2003). This is the reason that the traditional media should not be lost.

Compare to monopoly in one market (country), my global empire will not dominant in any single country. Monopolising one media market need huge funds and resource, when necessarily, a great deal of time and money are spent in blocking other from entering market (Steven, 2003). Moreover, I believed that the global market as a main stage is more likely to earn great money and opportunities. Disney Corporation is a great successful example of world dominant media. Their influence over children’s media and culture cover from west to east. Investing huge amount of money in one place, along with the potential of losing the competitiveness wouldn’t be my strategy to my global media empire.

Referencing

Steven, p 2003, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, pp.37-59.

Week 2 Cultural Flow: the barrier to globalisation

Globalisation is not merely driven by technological change. It is also driven by mirco-economic force and social force (Pieterse, 2004). Therefore, even there is an advanced technology and a good platform (media) existed, does not mean that the process of globalisation is smooth. Digital music store and player in net was an example of this. According to the news reported by AFP, Several global music players and streaming services, including Apple iTunes store, was facing a hard time in launch their service in Asia.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/397568/asias-digital-divide-poses-challenge-for-music-industry-2/

‘But together with region’s sprawl of very different cultural sensibilities, complicated licensing issues between record companies, publishers and groups holding performing rights, and piracy hotspots, digital growth has been mixed.’ (AFP, 2012).

There is still a gap in culture between western and Asia and its became the barrier to the process of globalisation. Ruuben van den Heuvel, executive director of music, media and technology consultancy GateWay Entertainment told AFP from Brisbane, Australia mentioned that Asia is a brand new planet to the Western companies. (AFP, 2012). Andrew Sheng has discussed this culture gap in his article ‘Despite globalisation, there is still a gap in cultural thinking’ as well. He claim that many Asian intellectuals are Western educated. Many social objectives are universal. However, the concepts of justice, faith, liberty, social status and values are still very different, even within one country. (Sheng, 2012).

‘Despite globalisation, there is still a gap in cultural thinking’       by Andrew Sheng
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Despite-globalisation-there-is-still-a-gap-in-cult-30185858.html

My apple store ID applied in HK region and I can’t found the music store in my iTunes until this recent few months. Now I can access in. I believe that globalisation is a unstoppable process in the future. It may slow down by some factors, but it won’t disturb the the whole project.

Reference:

Pieterse, N. J, 2004, 'Globalisation: consensus and controversies', Globalization and culture: global melange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp. 7–21.

Week 1 What is globalisation?

‘Globalisation’ is a word that can form a 480 pages book. It has an effect on the past, present and the future of the world, and all aspect of our daily life. It has been studied by many in different position with different interpretation.

Globalisation is different things to different groups. It is interpreted with once own interest by government, corporation and NGOs.(Deakin University, 2012)

‘Globalisation is an objective, empirical process of increasing economic and political connectivity, a subjective process unfolding in consciousness as the collective awareness of growing global interconnectedness, and a host of specific globalising projects that seek to shape global conditions.’(Pieterse, 2004).

The link between ‘media’ and ‘globalisation’ has been acknowledged by many. Marshall McLuhan, a globalisation theorist, had made this connection by combining ‘the medium is the message’ with his ‘global village’.(Rantanen, 2005)

Let get away from these ‘academic words’, left the professors and philosopher in their rooms, and see WHAT IS GLOBALISATION MEAN TO GENERAL?

Is …

A fast food restaurant that you can see anywhere in the world.

A beverage that you and I have drunk it at least once.

A person with different colour skin and eye walking pass to you.

A signage with three different language

A global issue that have been discussed and concerned over and over times.

This is what ‘globalisation’ simply means to me.

Reference:

Deakin University, 2012, 'Topic 1. Introduction: The Flows of Globalisation''

Pieterse, N. J, 2004, 'Globalisation: consensus and controversies', Globalization and culture: global melange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp. 7–21.

Rantanen, T 2005, ‘Theorizing media globalization’, The media and globalization, Sage, London, pp. 1–18

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