2008 Woodie Awards
A celebrity-obsessed nation: Why do we love them so much?
Michelle Faber
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Features
We live in a nation where girls want to wear what Lindsay Lohan is wearing, boys shave their scruff when Brad Pitt does, and Scientology seems more reliable than all of those "old-school" religions. Yes, that's right America, it's finally time to admit, we do have a problem. We are celebrity Obsessed with a capital "O." So the question is, why do we love them so much?
Celebrities have always been a focal point in American culture. From Audrey Hepburn to Halle Barry, America loves their celeb beauties. But doesn't it seem like, now, more than ever, this love has transformed into an unhealthy obsession? I mean should we really revolve our lives around the people we see on the big screen?
The scariest part about our obsession is what we actually do to the celebrities. Yes, I'm talking about how we turn our poor actors and actresses into nutcases. Look at the most obvious example: Tom Cruise. What the hell happened to this guy? Does anyone remember when he used to be a normal human being? He went from A-list actor to A-list psycho, and took our girl-next-door Katie Holmes down with him! But, once again, why do we care!?
Or how about Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen Twins, Hilary Duff, and any other actress that weighs less than 100 pounds? I can remember all four of these girls and how adorable they were in their younger days. America fell in love with these sweet little innocent children from the beginning and now look what we did to them. They feel guilty for eating a grape…all day. But, whatever, their skinny, that's what we want to see, so what do we care?
How about Britney Spears? Need I even say more? Come on, you know exactly what I'm going to say. What did we do to her!? She was cute and talented; she was a Mickey Mouse Club member! Now she has gotten divorced, she is trashy, she has admitted herself into rehab for a whole 24 hours and yes, the rumors are true, her head is shaved. America, I think we really screwed up on this one. Oops!
Celebrities have always been a focal point in American culture. From Audrey Hepburn to Halle Barry, America loves their celeb beauties. But doesn't it seem like, now, more than ever, this love has transformed into an unhealthy obsession? I mean should we really revolve our lives around the people we see on the big screen?
The scariest part about our obsession is what we actually do to the celebrities. Yes, I'm talking about how we turn our poor actors and actresses into nutcases. Look at the most obvious example: Tom Cruise. What the hell happened to this guy? Does anyone remember when he used to be a normal human being? He went from A-list actor to A-list psycho, and took our girl-next-door Katie Holmes down with him! But, once again, why do we care!?
Or how about Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen Twins, Hilary Duff, and any other actress that weighs less than 100 pounds? I can remember all four of these girls and how adorable they were in their younger days. America fell in love with these sweet little innocent children from the beginning and now look what we did to them. They feel guilty for eating a grape…all day. But, whatever, their skinny, that's what we want to see, so what do we care?
How about Britney Spears? Need I even say more? Come on, you know exactly what I'm going to say. What did we do to her!? She was cute and talented; she was a Mickey Mouse Club member! Now she has gotten divorced, she is trashy, she has admitted herself into rehab for a whole 24 hours and yes, the rumors are true, her head is shaved. America, I think we really screwed up on this one. Oops!
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
James Lightfield
posted 2/22/07 @ 7:04 AM EST
As a Scientologist for nearly 40 years, I agree that Tom Cruise made serious PR errors. However, there is a far more important factor that is overlooked, certainly by the media that is still slamming him. (Continued…)
James Lightfield
James Lightfield
posted 2/22/07 @ 7:16 AM EST
Typos: Sorry, guys, was quickly typing and did not proof read before posting.
Corrections:
para 2, last line
"...fewer prescriptions of Ritalin were filled. (Continued…)
Michael Costello
posted 2/22/07 @ 3:25 PM EST
He hops up and down on a couch a few times to proclaim his love for a beautiful girl and you think he's nuts?
He calls Matt Lauer glib (TRUE!) and you think he's a psycho?
Having been a Scientologist for 28 years, it's not difficult for me to see that the true psychotic behavior comes from the media. (Continued…)
James Lightfield
posted 2/22/07 @ 5:57 PM EST
Why do celebrity attract so much interest?
Possible Answer:
To a great degree, people are not physically challenged in life. So we look for interesting (second hand) things to engage our interest. (Continued…)
JeraldR
JeraldR
posted 2/23/07 @ 8:26 PM EST
Wow James,
How do you find these boards so fast? You are blameing anything and everything on the mental health system? Does scientology even belive mental illness is real?
Students, I could sit here and counter each and every false thing James Lightfield and Michale have posted here. (Continued…)
GC
posted 3/03/07 @ 10:32 PM EST
Scientology makes it sound as if psychiatrists from Freud till today, are intentionally out to harm others when if fact they worked thier ass off trying to heal so much human suffering. (Continued…)
dejaentendu816
Michelle
posted 11/14/07 @ 6:07 PM EST
To most comments:
I am sorry if i offended any scientologists out there, I suppose i should have specified what i was talking about, but mistakes happen. (Continued…)
James Lightfield
posted 11/15/07 @ 3:23 AM EST
To: Michelle
Thank you very much for your posting. You make an excellent point regarding the media.
What disturbs me about your generation is not YOUR generation, but what has been done to it. (Continued…)
Loggins N. Mecina
posted 11/19/07 @ 1:21 PM EST
Let's not forget the most famous Scientologist of all, Charles Manson. New Scientolgy slogan, "Scientology-- The cult too weird for Michael Jackson".
James Lightfield
posted 11/19/07 @ 3:59 PM EST
Scientology technologies are now acknowledged as effective in resolving problems by political, social, judicial and religious leaders as well as by educators, emergency responders and healthcare providers. (Continued…)
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