There has always been huge dialogue concerning the criticism of the “agenda” that celebrity culture seems to have set. Shows such as “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills” and the frequent encounters with the law and personal moral standards of Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber have been guilty of putting their ways of life on a pulpit for the world to see.
Fortunately, much of the reality shows do not accurately reflect reality as is. The media misconstrues what it means to be wealthy and well known as being something villainous, shun-worthy and unacceptable, yet it slyly integrates it into the daily information we receive. The phrase, “mind your own business” has come to a halt when it comes to public figures because their lives always seem to have an event that is susceptible to coverage.
The efforts of those stars who are the sources of endorsements and charity sometimes go overlooked because they are often viewed as stunts to attract attention – media magnets. The cruelty of animals, children or minorities doesn’t become a bigger issue because a celebrity decides to speak on it, it just becomes more relevant to others. If someone idolizes a particular celebrity, then certainly a passion of theirs, sponsored or not, will become of interest to them as well.
When I first heard in the news there was a petition for Justin Bieber’s deportation to Canada, I was more confused than shocked because I didn’t know people cared that much to run someone out of a country. He has been guilty of reckless behavior in many occasions and as a result, the petition amassed over 100,000 signatures which is the amount the government requires for review. I understand where the heart of those who either started the petition or signed it were in terms of their reasoning, but when considering the level of success if this went through – which is very unlikely – it makes little to no difference on his impact. If there is something that needs to be changed, it is the consumers. Maybe if there was not an expectation of perfection and an unrealistic portrayal of humanism, there wouldn’t be as much disappointment in people. If more people started examining themselves and their own actions instead of the individuals they view as important, then the issue of influence wouldn’t be as big of an issue as it is today.
Toni-Ann Hall, Freshman
Communication Major
