Blog by Sean Gehon, Monday, June 11, 2007
Many years ago celebrities were created based on celebrity. Before there was reality TV, before the celebrity gossip Blogging phenomenon, and even long before lip synching was cool, you had to have raw talent in order to make it in Hollywood. Even modeling has become subject to change. No longer do you have to be a standout unique beauty… with the ability to alter a photograph as drastically as we do, who needs to be the typical model? Musicians no longer need to hit every note or have a unique sound or tone to their music it can all happen with the magic of the studio. Actors just have to marry the right person to find their name in lights and their face on the big screen. Today, I found myself asking… what happened to talent?
Kevin Federline has allegedly turned down the chance to appear in a movie beside Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker. Now for someone like Kevin Federline who is willing to do anything for fame, including release a terrible rap album, probably should have chosen to do this movie. Perhaps the most curious thing about this report is why it’s being reported at all. Once Britney Spears’ divorce frKevin Federline was finalized, I was almost certain that would be the last we heard from K-Fed. Unfortunately, it appears as though the rules have changed, and almost anyone can be a star.
A celebrity is defined by dictionary.com as a famous or well known person. Famous is defined as having a widespread reputation, usually of a favourable nature, renowned; celebrity. So technically you don’t have to be good for anything in order to be a celebrity. I for one think the complete opposite. Even though celebrities and those who have achieved fame need to be well known, I think they should be known for doing something more productive than marrying Britney Spears or giving birth to Lindsay Lohan, or even hanging out with Paris Hilton.
Celebrities are the kind of people with undeniable talent. In my eyes to be a famous person you should have the stage presence of Madonna, the powerful voice of Whitney Houston, or the Academy Award winning chops of Helen Mirren. To just hang around and add nothing to society shouldn’t make you a celebrity. I want to be entertained by those I choose to call celebrities or famous people. I’m tired of hearing how Dina Lohan wants to be on The View or Kim Kardashian feels badly for Paris during her time in prison. You both may know celebrities, but that certainly doesn’t make you one.
What happened to talent? Have we given up completely on everything that made Hollywood different? It’s starting to look like all you have to do to get your face on TMZ.com or on Star! Daily is to stand next to Paris Hilton or divorce Britney Spears, and that makes me sad. I can remember the first time I became obsessed with a celebrity and needing to know everything about them. Back in 1996 when the Spice Girls first arrived on the music scene, I was hooked. They had great music, funky style, sassy attitudes… and I couldn’t get enough. Currently, there’s nobody upcoming, interesting, or remotely exciting that I can’t wait to know everything about, and that disappoints me.
I’m a little heartbroken for the youth of today. No more to they have amazing eccentric characters to look up to, they’re stuck with the humdrum antics of Kevin Federline, and the bad parenting of Dina Lohan. Where are the positive role models, the exciting celebrities and the antics of people worth carrying about? The less than D-listers that are often talked about in blogs, usually on slow days or to offer something other than Paris’ latest exploits, are of no more use than a distraction.
If I have any say, which I don’t, this will be the last we hear of Kevin Federline, Kim Kardashian and Dina Lohan… Sadly, with their celebrity counter parts more popular than ever, we’re going to be stuck with the non celebrities for quite some time.
Sean (How do I make it on the sub D-List?)
