2008 Woodie Awards
The Abuse of Fame
Nicole Heinzinger
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Opinion
Pop culture is changing, and new editions to the bloopers in our society are being added.
It seems that in the blink of an eye, another unfortunate event is broadcast across television screens and the never-ending flow of tabloids are plastered with photos of priceless moments. When is enough really enough?
There must be a day in sight where instead of staring at a former pop diva's crotch-shots, or another child-star-gone-bad's mug shot, the American people will be looking at what stock is rising and which new bill has been vetoed.
Instead, Yahoo's pop-up teasers of the week are OJ Simpson being arrested in a casino break-in and Britney Spears' fiasco of a performance at the Video Music Awards. Media has been broadcasting mistakes for decades.
At first, they were for laughs. "Oh look what the cute little monkeys are doing now." Lately it's been more like "when are they going to crawl under a rock already?"
Growing up, people look at what the media puts out as a guide to how they should live their lives. Back in the day, "baby" wasn't even allowed to be said on television.
Now there are racks full of provocative images staring back at the innocent faces who glare at them. It is no shock that five year olds are dancing like strippers working their poles; no surprise when a teenager decides to pile more unflattering make up on her face.
And yet society is feeding into these misfortunes like hungry maggots to a corpse.
A child should not be permitted to see or hear the things that modern-day celebrities are doing.
Lindsay Lohan's constant battle with sobriety is making it acceptable to relapse time and time again. She is supposed to be a role model. Is that the message we're supposed to be showing the people who are growing up nowadays?
If so, move to Switzerland. Be the neutral country when everything else is going astray. At least you won't be brought up to have poor morals and shady values. Publicity is a double-edged sword.
Fifteen minutes of fame can lead to a lifetime of regret and remorse. If you can't handle the stress, temptation and pressure that celebrity-status brings, find a new job. The want-ads are always looking for dried-up, drugged-out has-beens for telemarketing.
In fact, it would be better to hear Whitney Houston on the other end of the phone conducting annoying surveys of your refinancing than to see another image of Courtney Love looking more like a wet rat than a celebrity.
Who cares if you "did it all for the nookie?" In the end, you corrupted the minds of adolescents. Congratulations, media and the rotten eggs of the public circle have effectively influenced today's generation into mini-skirts, rehabs and a whirlwind of dysfunctional attributes.
But that's OK, As long as there are the Paris Hiltons and Bobby Browns of society, we will survive by leaning back on drugs, sex, and dirty money.
It seems that in the blink of an eye, another unfortunate event is broadcast across television screens and the never-ending flow of tabloids are plastered with photos of priceless moments. When is enough really enough?
There must be a day in sight where instead of staring at a former pop diva's crotch-shots, or another child-star-gone-bad's mug shot, the American people will be looking at what stock is rising and which new bill has been vetoed.
Instead, Yahoo's pop-up teasers of the week are OJ Simpson being arrested in a casino break-in and Britney Spears' fiasco of a performance at the Video Music Awards. Media has been broadcasting mistakes for decades.
At first, they were for laughs. "Oh look what the cute little monkeys are doing now." Lately it's been more like "when are they going to crawl under a rock already?"
Growing up, people look at what the media puts out as a guide to how they should live their lives. Back in the day, "baby" wasn't even allowed to be said on television.
Now there are racks full of provocative images staring back at the innocent faces who glare at them. It is no shock that five year olds are dancing like strippers working their poles; no surprise when a teenager decides to pile more unflattering make up on her face.
And yet society is feeding into these misfortunes like hungry maggots to a corpse.
A child should not be permitted to see or hear the things that modern-day celebrities are doing.
Lindsay Lohan's constant battle with sobriety is making it acceptable to relapse time and time again. She is supposed to be a role model. Is that the message we're supposed to be showing the people who are growing up nowadays?
If so, move to Switzerland. Be the neutral country when everything else is going astray. At least you won't be brought up to have poor morals and shady values. Publicity is a double-edged sword.
Fifteen minutes of fame can lead to a lifetime of regret and remorse. If you can't handle the stress, temptation and pressure that celebrity-status brings, find a new job. The want-ads are always looking for dried-up, drugged-out has-beens for telemarketing.
In fact, it would be better to hear Whitney Houston on the other end of the phone conducting annoying surveys of your refinancing than to see another image of Courtney Love looking more like a wet rat than a celebrity.
Who cares if you "did it all for the nookie?" In the end, you corrupted the minds of adolescents. Congratulations, media and the rotten eggs of the public circle have effectively influenced today's generation into mini-skirts, rehabs and a whirlwind of dysfunctional attributes.
But that's OK, As long as there are the Paris Hiltons and Bobby Browns of society, we will survive by leaning back on drugs, sex, and dirty money.
Be the first to comment on this story