Paris Does Her Part

Paris Hilton is probably one of the most infamous "famous-for-nothing" celebrities in Young Hollywood's culture. The Simple Life won the ASCAP Award for Top TV Series and the BMI TV Music Award in 2004, and "Paris and Nicole's rural misadventures on The Simple Life have proved so popular with viewers that Fox World has produced international versions for overseas television" (1).

Though her ditzy personality has been the butt of many jokes, Paris does appear to have some common sense in her. Young Hollywood.com reported that Paris "says, 'I pledge to support the American work force by wearing only American designers: Calvin Klein between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Donna Karan the rest of the year'" (2).

Ok, so I realize that there are plenty of things that Paris could do with her money that would support the people who lost their jobs because of the economy. But, when you think about it, spending money is what's going to boost the American economy. Regardless of the sub-prime mortgage fiasco or the credit crunch, a simple increase in demand for a good will create a supply. That supply will generate revenue for all the employees of the company, and in the long run could create more jobs as well.

I very well know that donating time and money to a food bank, soup kitchen, or homeless shelter would be very much appreciated and is needed very badly. And those in need should in no way be overlooked. However, it's Paris Hilton. And as we all know, she is material to no end.
So this made me think about my disdain for the obsession with young Hollywood. In my last post I think I established that those in the young Hollywood scene are just living their lives. They have access to clubs, alcohol, and drugs, and they often don't know any other lifestyle. So I can understand why they live the way they do. Why not? They're young, rich, and beautiful.

So then, that brings me to the nation's obsession with young Hollywood. I think that part of it may stem from things like Paris buying only American designers and Nicole Ritchie trying to settle down and raise a child. Also, when sex tapes made by socialites like Kim Kardashian go public, the public gets to witness both the scandal and its aftermath. Their poise and dignity, as well as their breakdowns on their reality shows, gives people hope that they can make it through their own personal tragedies. Their tragedies aren't broadcasted to the nation on E! News or in People magazine. While they have to face their friends, family, and community in light of a tragic event, they don't have the knowledge that a random housewife in Allentown, Pennsylvania, knows their dirty laundry. I think it gives them comfort to know that there is someone worse of than them whose suffering can be seen as trivial: they don't have to deal with making the rent or mortgage and paying the bills each month.

1. Wikipedia.com User
2007. The Simple Life. Electronic Document. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simple_Life, Accessed October 19, 2008
2. Younghollywood.com Staff
2008 Hilton's a Fashionable Patriot. Electronic Document.
http://www.younghollywood.com/news/2008/10/19/hiltons-a-fashionable-patriot.html, Accessed October 19, 2008

Media Magnification

When doing some research on Google today, I stumbled an article from MSNBC that makes a very valid point about the young hollywood lifestyle:

"But is it all blown out of proportion or is young Hollywood really out of control? Let’s look at the facts…

But again, young celebrities getting into trouble is anything but a new concept.

The ’90s had Shannen Doherty’s “90210” crew and the ’80s had the Brat Pack — each with their own share of troubles. Just look at Charlie Sheen’s drug past and Rob Lowe’s sex tape scandal."

This is very true. Reading the article made me realize something very important in understanding the phenomenon surrounding young hollywood. Young stars have always had access to clubs, drugs, alcohol and other forms of illegal fun. It's not their lifestyle that's changed. It's the media that's changed.

“'In the ’80s when you were back in that young, hot scene, there weren’t blogs and there weren’t all these things,' Emilio told Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush.

'Do you think it would have ruined you back then?' Billy asked.

'It’s quite possible because every move is documented,' Emilio admitted"

Granted, this article is dated December 13, 2006. However, it is even more relevant now than it was when published nearly two years ago. Celebrity-oriented web sites like www.perezhilton.com and www.tmz.com have grown ever more popular along with TV shows like Access Hollywood and E! News and magazines like People and US Weekly.

These websites, TV shows, and magazines are responding to a huge demand by the public. I will readily admit that I subscribe to People magazine and enjoy indulging in the lives of celebrities for about an hour a week. But when I read, I pay more attention to the lives of the stars that have somewhat respectable careers. When I see Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, or Lauren Conrad mentioned, I usually skip past the blurbs on their lives. They haven't done anything meaningful with their careers; they don't deserve attention.



Article and quotes found at:
Access Hollywood. 2006 Is Young Hollywood Out Of Control? Electronic Document, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16194594/, Accessed October 7, 2008