Fame and Culture
Being Famous
For so many years, psychologists have been unable to distinctively distinguish the terms fame and notoriety. This is so because the two concepts always seem to be used interchangeably.
For years, fame and notoriety have been used to refer to certain cultures of people who are in the public limelight. However, famous people who are known to the society as public figures always seem to influence the mainstream society and its culture. An example of such influence is common in young people, who seem to believe and follow the culture of the famous people.
For example, young girls are commonly known to imitate the dressing styles of famous women like Rihanna and Beyonce. The two women are popular artists in the American music industry. On the other hand, companies that manufacture perfume brands always like to use famous people while marketing their products.
Negative Aspects of Fame and Notorious
Fame and notoriety is not always what it seems to be. In reality, fame and notoriety have been shaping cultures in a very negative manner. This is justified by various observations made from the behaviors of the so-called famous people. Most of the world-known American rappers in the music industry are known to be associated with drugs and possession of firearms. Contrary to their public image, many of the young people adore this person and almost imitate their very lifestyles.
In this respect, it is evident to notice that fame and notoriety is highly associated with negativity. A recent example of this negative notoriety is of the renowned cyclist and an Olympic champion; Lance Armstrong. Lance Armstrong has recently been accused of doping. For many years, Armstrong has been celebrated and has inspired millions of young people who wanted to make a career in sports.
Armstrong is now a big letdown to many people who believed in him. It is also important to note that media is an agent of this negative notoriety. The media and especially the television have been instrumental in creating a culture that promotes negative notoriety. In reality, the media has been negatively influencing viewers, who do not borrow positive values from the celebrity culture.
In every celebrity, there is always a story behind his or her success. There is always a negative aspect that is always associated with their success. A critical analysis on many famous people reveals that there is always a tendency by the famous people to gain their fame in dubious means.
Some American rappers are known of committing crime as a means of ensuring that they get attention and remain relevant in the music industry (Holmes 66). The media is known of mitigating such dubious means of accumulated fame. The media focuses their attention on issues that do not help the rest of the society, but only that gives limelight to the famous.
Fame can be termed as dangerous if a famous individual does not become a person of independent mind. Famous people have limits on how they think, act and behave publicly. It is easier to notice that famous people always tend to focus on satisfying their audience and fans. The famous want to keep their followers entertained, thus forgetting their own personal development.
Another reason as to why the public should be wary of fame is that one is always vulnerable to losing their intellectual discipline. People who have no intellectual discipline will always act like they know everything. Famous people are known of trying hard to argue and trying to make their arguments influence other people. An example of such notoriety is observed in scholars, who sometimes influence their students negatively. Such scholars concentrate on issues that are beyond their scope in the quest of being famous.
Psychologists have associated lack of self-awareness to quest or overindulgence in fame. Many individuals who are obsessed with fame lack self-awareness. Such individuals are obsessed with insecurity, wondering what others think of them. The moment this fame fades away, such people are known to indulge in irresponsible behaviors (Holmes 66).
For example, there are hundreds of famous people known to be drug addicts and indulge in irresponsible sexual behaviors. There are extreme cases of famous people committing suicide as they try to escape from reality and self-awareness.
Cultural Scripts for How to Become Famous
Basically, the society has embraced the culture of notoriety and has indeed allowed its influence to flourish and corrupt young minds and lives. The culture of notoriety is very vague since it has no standards like the mainstream cultures. Fame is very volatile culture and which is dangerous, since it does not provide a foundation for people to grow and develop (Marshall 243).
Conclusion
It is, therefore, not advisable to embrace such cultures in the society. As a matter of fact, the media should not focus on the lives of the celebrities. It is logical to conclude that notoriety is a temporary lifestyle and not a culture that can withstand the test of time.
Works Cited
Holmes, Su. In the limelight and under the microscope: Forms and functions of female celebrity. New York, Continuum International Publishing Group, 2011. Print.
Marshall, P., David. Celebrity and power: Fame in contemporary culture. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1997. Print.