The bile rises

-or- loving the lascivious

Published on January 17, 2005 By BlueDev In Current Events

Day in, day out. The flood continues.

And the bile rises.

The cover of magazines, newspapers, news programs, the front page of the internet (depending on what your home page is), and even dedicated television programs. Celebrity news. We can't seem to get away from it. Our obsession with celebrities continues to increase, seemingly exponentially, while the collective cultural IQ plummets.

I for one am getting downright sick of it.

While there are still real works of art out there, it seems our culture seeks more for the grime. We cast aside that which is chaste because we find it boring. Relishing the gossip: who is sleeping with whom, who isn't sleeping with whom, what are they wearing, listening to, eating, and how they wipe their backside.

We feed into it. Snatching gossip rags off the rack in the grocery store, tuning in "tonight" to catch the "inside" scoop on the "extra" juicy news. Award shows, self-congratulatory sessions of celebrity onanism, become the talk of the town. Who won, what did they wear and who did they come with.

Why do we care?

Some may chalk it up to escapism. If that is the escape I would hate to see just how hollow the real life is. I enjoy being entertained just as much as anyone. I enjoy some television, a good movie now and then, and as much music as my life will allow. But I just don't see anything redeeming in relishing in the lives of those on the other side of the medium. Ego-inflated to the point of no return, we continue to feed the celebrity machine with our time, our money, and even perhaps our dreams.

In each of us is a spark, a light that wants something more. Don't ignore that spark. Don't bury it in the filth of juicy gossip, silencing it with the refuse of a wasted life. Reach higher. Celebrate the good, not the inane. Embrace the sublime, not the salacious.

We owe it to ourselves.

Comments (Page 1)

dynamaso

on Jan 17, 2005

BlueDev, I couldn't agree more. My wife watches a show here for her work that laughingly calls itself 'A Current Affair'. In reality, it has very little to do with current affairs. Instead it runs articles on the latest celebrity gossip or advertisements for a new movie or Top40 album, thinly disguised as 'interviews' with the stars in question. What makes matters worse is these 'stars' and the products they are advertising are only mediocre at best.

Great post, mate.

Cheers,

Maso

Starstuff

on Jan 17, 2005

In each of us is a spark, a light that wants something more. Don't ignore that spark. Don't bury it in the filth of juicy gossip, silencing it with the refuse of a wasted life. Reach higher. Celebrate the good, not the inane. Embrace the sublime, not the salacious

Good luck!!!

Gene Nash

on Jan 17, 2005

Have you seen Access Hollywood? They recently devoted an entire episode to the wannabe younger sisters of "celebrities." Let's follow some 14 year-olds around the mall as if they were the second coming! I turned to the person who was watching the program and asked, "Is this show produced by high school girls?"

I honestly don't understand the obsession with people so unworthy of obsession. Most of them can barely string 3 words together.

I don't get it. (But, c'mon, Paris Hilton is hot.

)

island_gurl12

on Jan 18, 2005

Paris Hilton? Eeewww,

I couldnt agree more with you BlueDev! But seriously why do we care?

I guess i could say people like the celebrities gossip because they have nothing better to do with their lives. Ok that's a bit drastic, but it sounds true. Why dont they deal with their own life instead of following the dramas of the celebs? Probably because that's what the media is showing and forces down our throat. He he, that too isnt really the answer is it?

Well maybe because the majority of human beings are voyeurs without knowing it and enjoy having a glimpse in the lifes of the famuous and rich. Probably because people want to know that everyone is human with the same needs. Probably because it they want to know if the celebs are worthy of their status in society.

Okay, i dont know why, but it definetely tells us this one thing: gossip is human nature, and it sux big time!

BlueDev

on Jan 18, 2005

In reality, it has very little to do with current affairs.

I had forgotten about that one. Seriously, why do we buy into the idea that celebrity lives are worth wasting our time on? Obviously, like anything in life, if people didn't like it they wouldn't make so much. Heck, we even have Celebrity Justice. I have no idea what the show is about, but the very title makes me taste bile. Thanks for the comment Maso.

Starstuff: Thanks, I will take all the luck I can get and make as much as I can.

I honestly don't understand the obsession with people so unworthy of obsession. Most of them can barely string 3 words together.

Fantastically put Gene. I don't get it either, but it seems there is an entire industry built around it. So someone must be buying into it.

Well maybe because the majority of human beings are voyeurs without knowing it and enjoy having a glimpse in the lives of the famous and rich. Probably because people want to know that everyone is human with the same needs. Probably because it they want to know if the celebs are worthy of their status in society.

Good observations. But just how long should it take us to realize that celebrities are just people who aren't worthy of their status? With some exceptions, I think we can safely say they are a drain on society. If they could perform (those who actually can) well, create decent entertainment (heck, I don't even need it to be art all the time, just fun), and then just live their lives without needing us to know about them, then I could respect that. But compared to so many other professions they really do nothing. Heck, the greeter at WalMart does more for me on a regular basis with a smile and a friendly word than any celebrity ever has. Gah, I am carrying on.

Dusk411

on Jan 18, 2005

Regular news can be like that, too. I remember when Kelly Clarkson's first album came out, a Fox News affliate had a story about it. People release CD's all the time. It wasn't newsworthy. I saw it more as the network pushing its American Idol product.

dynamaso

on Jan 19, 2005

What disturbs me even more is how many people see this sort of thing AS news. It is NOT news, it is product advertising and endorsement. It is almost cash for comments, but not quite. No one from any of the major commercial channels called me for an interview when I released my solo album, nor did I expect them to call me. What really irks me is that I know so many very good but struggling singer songwriters who work their butts off but have very little resources left to promote their music. Then I turn the tv on and some twat who has appeared on Idol or a huge artist such as Elton or U2, who can afford the publicity but don't really need it, are on ACA talking up their latest album. Hey, lets all celebrate medi(a)ocrity...

island_gurl12

on Jan 19, 2005

It is a pain isnt it maso? But that market makes loads of money, and those who are at the top dont want little artists to take over on them. So they keep being in the front scene, being on TV, appearing at events, being embassadors to whatever charity group, or just displaying thei private life on magazines.

It's all about the money.

dynamaso

on Jan 19, 2005

IG, never a truer word spoken.

BlueDev

on Jan 19, 2005

Good points, all around. It isn't news. It is sensational entertainment and marketing. So many times what we end up buying into is an image, with no talent. I really love a lot of less known bands and it kills me to see little-to-no talent hacks getting all the attention.

Hamster 311

on Jan 19, 2005

Embrace the sublime, not the salacious.

Amen, BlueDev! Very eloquently put, I might add. Gossip and celebrity gossip are a staple in the salon where I work; I am assaulted by people operating from this mentality every day. But this type of thinking is typically expected in such an environment, where the very nature of the business being done there is based on illusion. What's really alarming is the extent to which celebrity idolatry has permeated our society:

What disturbs me even more is how many people see this sort of thing AS news. It is NOT news

dynamaso hit the nail on the head, here. It's all about the manufacturing and marketing of products. Look at Britney Spears, for one obvious example. How many times has she made the NEWS? In one breath and a different camera angle, newscasters go from solemnly reporting the death toll in Iraq to lightheartedly bantering about Britney's latest antics.

Of course, broadcasters would argue that they're just keeping up with viewer demand.

dynamaso

on Jan 19, 2005

Of course, broadcasters would argue that they're just keeping up with viewer demand

Broadcasters are also aware of the cross-promotion dollars their networks earn. They know who pays their wages and won't or aren't willing to do anything to jeopardise their jobs.

dynamaso

on Jan 19, 2005

Of course, broadcasters would argue that they're just keeping up with viewer demand

Broadcasters are also aware of the cross-promotion dollars their networks earn. They know who pays their wages and won't or aren't willing to do anything to jeopardise their jobs.

trina_p

on Jan 19, 2005

Maso - I don't really put much faith into anything on ACA or Today Tonight. Australia's messiest house, Australia's biggest con artist, Australian Idol Scandal -- it's all rubbish but personally I'd rather hear about someone's latest cd then a today tonight exclusive with the man/woman who *insert appropriate drivel here* 19 year old girl on welfare with 4 children, the messiest house in QLD

I just watch Neighbours - at least I know that it's brain candy - it doesn't try to take itself seriously everyone knows it's just a show.

Moderateman

on Jan 19, 2005

as usual blue yer right onna money again.... really who gives a flying *expletive deleted* about how the stars poop, what they eat. what cloth they use...how they live.... Personally they should stick to making movies {fantasy} and stay out of reality..{politics}

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