Heroes and celebrities contribute to the development of the society. Additionally, they are active in helping people discover their roles. LaBarge indicates that “If we most of us, as Thoreau said, live lives of quiet desperation, it is because our horizons of possibility are too cramped” (LaBarge, 2010).
This is an indicator that heroes are instrumental in shaping and rebuilding destroyed livelihoods. It is imperative for the society to adopt the ideas suggested by heroes in a cautious manner. This means that societal members have to neglect non-beneficial and inappropriate concepts.
Authors and scholars define the word celebrity basing on their surroundings and ideas. Jaffe (2005) indicates that a celebrity “is not merely a commodity or status, but an intricate system through which meaning is made and social relations constituted”. Additional scholars indicate that a celebrity is a person with an outstanding personality profile as seen in career and social processes.
Concurrently, a hero means “an individual who posses distinguished bravery in danger, or determination in suffering” (Jaffe, 2005). It is notable that heroes are famous as seen in their exemplary actions that affect the society positively. Eventually, they leave outstanding legacies that make people remember them.
Even though, celebrities and heroes are not defined in a similar manner, several aspects characterize both parties. For example, celebrities and heroes are famous. Furthermore, they attract masses regardless of the strategies, which they utilize to influence the society. Indeed, both categories have the power to influence the society through their supremacy as evident when they attract people within a setting. Eventually, the community may choose to imitate them.
The status associated with celebrities and heroes is different. Allison & Geothals (2010) indicate that, while a celebrity focuses on drawing attention to activities that characterize his nature and individuality, a hero is goal driven since he focuses on alleviating the conditions within the society. These actions are initiated with the intention of remaining relevant within the communal setting. The table below illustrates the distinctions between the two entities.
There are diverse categories of heroes in the contemporary society. An example is Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish businessperson who rescued numerous Jews. This happened in Hungary, which was occupied by the Nazi from the Holocaust. This was apparent during the final stages of the combat. In addition, Juana Galan was a heroin since she liberated her communes in the peninsular combat. Interestingly, heroes influence the lives of the community around them making people dependent on them.
It is risky to follow the actions of heroes since they are based on personal judgment. Significant proportions of heroes influence the society negatively. Evidently, this is divergent from people’s expectations. A celebrity faces numerous challenges since he is dependent on the support of the masses to maintain his stature. Scholars indicate that several celebrities influence the community in a negative way since they employ unorthodox techniques to attract people. This necessitates caution and adherence to statutes.
Heroes influence the society in a significant manner. Several scholars indicate that their work is not restricted to the instantaneous significance of their actions. In a planet, where materialism and cynicism persists, heroes use their expertise to address gaps by coming up with useful ideas. They often influence people to lead a fulfilling life and address the needs of needy persons (Goldman, 2011). This makes people think about their misgivings.
Eventually, they develop meaningful thoughts that are beneficial to other people. Additionally, heroes appeal to individuals making them adopt diverse ideologies that will improve their standing within the society. As a result, heroism takes the form of an external force, which changes someone infinitely. “Just as, heroes have always existed, there is a need for more heroes” (Goldman, 2011).
Heroes and celebrity multiply as different styles and fashions emerge. With the diversity of religion and perception of life, many celebrities decided to form a ritual group that followed specific guidelines. This is the “cult of celebrity” (Goldman, 2011). It became a well-known social phenomenon in the final years of the 20th century.
It embraced the celebrities’ livelihood such as idolatry. Furthermore, the entertainment industry including the reality television and the talent show are the definitive facets of the cult. Because of the cult, religion lost its influence on morality since many people focused on entertainment (Congress, 2003).
Heroes are important since they shape cultural processes. It is worth mentioning that celebrities influence people positively. However, this is limited to the communal aspects, which are appealing. In order for a community to gain from heroes and celebrities, the members ought to learn through restraint rather than fame. This calls for appropriate judgment and decisions that will improve the livelihoods of persons in the society.
References
Allison, S., & Geothals, G. (2010). Heroes: what they do and why we need them. Virginia: oxford university press.
Congress. (2003). Congressional Record, Volumes 109-122; Volumes 1963-1966. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Goldman, J. (2011). Modernism Is the Literature of Celebrity. Austin: University of Texas Press.
Jaffe, A. (2005). Modernism and the culture of celebrity, volume 13. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
LaBarge, S. (2010). Heroism: Why Heroes are Important. Web.