Monday, April 28, 2014
Blog Post- Due May 2nd- Period 7
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/opinion/inequality-and-the-modern-culture-of-celebrity.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0
Consider the author's tone, structure of the article, validity of evidence, persuasive techniques, and your personal reaction.
2. Please add an intelligent comment (minimum 5 sentences) in response to the linked articles from The New York Times. Be sure to use a minimum of one quote in your response.
3. Optional: Comment on a classmates post in a second post (minimum 3 sentences)
*Use only your first name, last initial and class period.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
George Hartlin P.7
ReplyDeleteI look at this article and i see a deep following between celebs. Either they are acting like something they aren't or they came from an upbringing at which they became a more powerful icon of what they were once before. The corruption of the early celebs is met today by those who broke the law and became who they are today. "The obsession with celebrities goes far beyond supermarket tabloids, gossip Web sites and reality TV. It obliterates old distinctions between high and low culture, serious and trivial endeavors, profit making and philanthropy, leading to the phenomenon of being famous for being famous." According to The New York Times Opinion Pages. The celebs stories continue to bounce all over the place just like they did around the early twentieth century. The gossip of yesteryear continue to follow through today through social media websites. Everything about a celeb will be talked about in their lifetime because those who feel the need to follow a famous person will choose to investigate their life story. Soon celebs will take over the world as they slowly consume the school, charity, and political powers. The 1920's lifestyle of the rich and famous has just become upgraded from italian mobsters to multiracial gangs such as the latin kings and cripps. The newspaper now is a thing of the past because the internet has greatly effect how we receive our news feeds. Further more the whole way we make due with what we have has changed as the United States economic hardship has evolved. Soon the whole generation now will dawn in a 21st century 20's era repeat
After reading this article I have seen that celebrities have became such a big thing. Celebrities had first started to come out in the 1920's and by the end of that generation they were know as house-hold gods. It even mentions in the article,"Fitzgerald intuited that, with the old restraining deities of the 19th century dead and his generation’s faith in man shaken by World War I, celebrities were the new household gods." So we can see that celebrities were household gods then just imagine what they are today; they are probably even something bigger. But now a days celebrities just come from an upbringing of generations from their family who are already famous and this makes them become a more powerful icon. Also, people now a days become famous after one small thing that they did;like getting pregnant or doing something heroic.But also their fame only last for a little bit or could last forever. In the article it mentions,"There is a quality of self-invention to their rise: Mark Zuckerberg went from awkward geek to the subject of a Hollywood hit; Shawn Carter turned into Jay-Z; Martha Kostyra became Martha Stewart, and then Martha Stewart Living. The person evolves into a persona, then a brand, then an empire, with the business imperative of grow or die" These celebrities just became famous after one small thing and now some of them are pop icons. I feel like soon celebrities will be the biggest thing on this planet and everything will just be about them. Its just the way we pick our generation to be.
ReplyDeleteKarisma Patel
Period 7
Stephanie Durso Period : 7
ReplyDeleteWhen you look back at the 1920s it was a somewhat simpler time. There was a sense of work ethic. The American dream was alive and well. Many working and not being paid what they deserved, but did not complain. Many families working many jobs to get the bare necessities and their oasis from life were the movies. Even though they weren’t living a “glamorous” life they could see it on screen. The celebrity obsession began. For some reason celebrities are highly regarded and an example of what a good life seems like. “The obsession with celebrities goes far beyond supermarket tabloids, gossip Web sites and reality TV. It obliterates old distinctions between high and low culture, serious and trivial endeavors, profit making and philanthropy, leading to the phenomenon of being famous for being famous.” Why even in the 1920s and even now do we strive to be them? What is so different between them and anyone else? They are known for being famous though there are some that do work to get there success. Those are the people you should idolize, to strive to achieve and fulfill your dreams. “The obsession with celebrities goes far beyond supermarket tabloids, gossip Web sites and reality TV. It obliterates old distinctions between high and low culture, serious and trivial endeavors, profit making and philanthropy, leading to the phenomenon of being famous for being famous. “We are always going to look for people to idolize. We need to learn to realize that working hard is how you achieve. Without hard work there is no success. By doing that the American dream stays alive and you are successful. Celebrities are just like us. In the 1920s and even now we look for an outlook from life. Sometimes we get to caught up in the allure of fame ,money ,and Hollywood that we forget that there is no difference between celebrities and us. Unfortunely the obsession has gotten worse since the 1920s with the media in our face all the time. Though if we take a second to realize that you can also be successful also and that the only way to achieve is to work hard and live your life instead of being consumed with these celebrities success.
Jonathan B
ReplyDeleteP7
Back in the 1920s it was a simpler time. The famous and well known people were the extremely wealthy. They could have been born into it or they could have worked their way up. I like that in the article it stated that, "We have celebrity bankers (Jamie Dimon), computer engineers (Sergey Brin), real estate developers/conspiracy theorists (Donald J. Trump), media executives (Arianna Huffington), journalists (Anderson Cooper), mayors (Cory A. Booker), economists (Jeffrey D. Sachs), biologists (J. Craig Venter) and chefs (Mario Batali)." Celebrities aren't just movie actors and singers. They can also be engineers, and other things. In my opinion I feel that Engineers and biologists, should be more famous for their achievements than actors and singers. They need to know a lot of things to help the world and make it a better place. Back in the 1920s it was not difficult to be around celebrities, in today's time some celebrities don't want to be around people that aren't as wealthy as them. Its kind of sad if you think about it, most people will never see a celebrity in person unless they want to be seen.
Life for Americans was easier back in the 1920's. Celebrities had an easier life back then even though some of them were making billions of dollars and turning little cottages into these big mansions. Back in the 1920's almost every American was a celebrity. Now people have to work their hardest to reach that goal of being a celebrity. Some people say it is trying to chase the "American Dream." In today's world celebrities are being chased around the press. Some people have captured the American Dream already. The article states that, "We have celebrity bankers (Jamie Dimon), computer engineers (Sergey Brin), real estate developers/conspiracy theorists (Donald J. Trump), media executives (Arianna Huffington), journalists (Anderson Cooper), mayors (Cory A. Booker), economists (Jeffrey D. Sachs), biologists (J. Craig Venter) and chefs (Mario Batali)." Celebrities aren't just those guys that you see on TV shows or in the movie theaters. They can be biologists engineers chefs etc. In my opinion I feel that biologists, economists, and engineers deserve more credit for their work than a famous actor like Brad Pitt or a famous singer like Jay-Z. When you compare the 1920's to today you can see that it was easier for celebrities to live their life in peace back in the 1920's. However, today is a much different story because in order for celebrities to live their life in peace they have to get away from the press. It was not difficult to be a celebrity back in the 1920's, in today's time some celebrities don't want to be around people that aren't as wealthy as them. Its kind of sad if you think about it, most people will never see a celebrity in person unless they want to be seen.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when you think about it you might not be able to see a celebrity in person until that celebrity comes out of hiding from the press.
Cayla Florio
ReplyDeleteI believe that celebrities are looked at a lot differently today than in the 1920's. Celebrities had it much easier and weren't so glamorized like they are today. A lot of people are famous for not really doing much and making something out of themselves. There was more of a sense of work ethic and working for their fame. We idolize celebrities today because of their looks rather than their work. The 1920's lifestyle of celebs and socialites were much more easy going. If they wanted too they were able to go out leisurely walking or shopping without being swarmed by paparazzi and fans. Security didn't have to surround them 24/7, things were much more simpler then. The famous could live like normal people just with alot of money. Now people need to be secretive and hide from paparazzi. Kim Kardashian had to hide in her house for 3 months with her baby just to keep her safe. I believe that celebrities will potentially take over the population because people are being idolized for nothing. In the article the author said, "Our age is lousy with celebrities. They can be found in every sector of society, including ones that seem less than glamorous. " I agree with this statement because people could be famous for anything now. One little picture in a magazine or a commercial can make them famous. It's no longer about building your way up or working for what you want.