In Conclusion

When I set out to write this blog, I wanted to write about the culture of Young Hollywood. I didn't understand why the media would give these young stars and starlets attention that they didn't deserve - last time I checked, shopping sprees and drunken escapades aren't headline news. However, when I tried to do research on the topic, I found that no other anthropologists had studied the culture of young Hollywood. This forced me to broaden my topic - I would study celebrity culture instead. Along the way, I found a lot more resources and research that cast celebrities in a positive light. This switch in focus really opened my eyes. Like many others, I was bogged down by all the negative images of celebrities in the media. In reality, a select group of stars are the ones showing the world a bad image: staying out at clubs until 3 AM, doing illegal drugs and drinking when underage, blowing their money on useless things, and not really doing anything that merits attention. What I found when I broadened my topic was that there are so many celebrities doing good under the radar that it's easy to forget about them and focus on the bad images in the media. I was biased against the celebrity culture. The bad publicity is what sells magazines and newspapers, so of course that's what's going to be published.
Celebrities are the ones that force people to pay attention to causes they may not otherwise care about. During the presidential election last month, countless celebrities stepped out in support of the candidates they thought would best lead the country. Appearing on campaign stops and at rallies made more people pay attention and tune in, which gave each candidate and campaign more media attention. When a celebrity publishes a book, even if it's something like Paris Hilton's Confessions of an Heiress, it still gets people reading. However, I think that it's even more important when a celebrity writes a children's book, such as Madonna's The English Roses. Parents who may not ordinarily read to their child may pick up the book just because of the celebrity name attached to it.
Just as an anthropologist has to shed their cultural bias when studying a foreign culture, I too had to shed my bias against celebrities. If I was making a multi-million dollar salary, I too would live in a nice house, drive a nice car, and wear nice clothing. And, like many of the celebrities I looked at, I would donate my time and money to charity as well. At the conclusion of my cross-cultural experience, I learned to, well, not judge a book by its cover. There is always more to a person, group, or culture than what meets the eye.


Image Source:
1) http://www.vegascasinoguy.com/_wizardimages/3272hollywood_sign.jpg

An Adverse Relationship

Celebrities and the law enforcement represent completely opposite ends of the public relations spectrum. When you get down to the symbolic connections between each word and the images it conjures, "celebrity" will often have a more positive connotation than "police officer":

The celebrities are on the red carpet, glammed up and dressed to the nines. They look pulled together, polished, and represent the quintessential celebrity couple. Who wouldn't want to be them?

This cop is overweight and eating a donut. He is in uniform, but doesn't look very professional and does not command the respect of his audience.
Though a direct image does not necessarily need to be connected to the word, "this means that the relation is arbitrary and symbolic; each word represents a concept" (1). Even before delving into and analyzing the adverse relationship between celebrities and the law, it is apparent that there is already bias because of the symbols connected to each figure's title.
When you think about it, law enforcement and celebrities should use each other to create positive images in the media. "Americans now feel a greater personal connection with celebrities in remote locations than with local legal officials. Therefore, in spite of “community policing” or “community prosecution” programs designed to build relationships with legal officials in local neighborhoods, it is reasonable to assume that Americans are still more likely to base their impressions of the criminal justice system on television programs" (2). Thus, if ad campaigns such as the "Above the Influence" and "Click It Or Ticket" campaigns that focus on following the law used celebrities, they could reach a far broader audience.
However, all too often celebrities are shown breaking the law. The U.N. Drug Agency's annual report stated: Celebrity drug offenders can profoundly influence attitudes, values and behaviour towards drug abuse, particularly among young people,” it said. “The authorities should ensure that celebrities who violate drug laws are made accountable" (3). This report was published after the scandals surrounding the drug use of Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss, and Pete Doherty. In addition, nightclubs in Los Angeles, New York, and London are known for admitting underage starlets to party the night away.
During my cultural encounter, I have encountered mostly positive images of celebrities in modern culture. It appears that this is one of the few areas with whom celebrities could improve their relationship. Unfortunately, it appears that a select group of celebrities are ruining the relationship between celebrities and the law for the rest of the bunch.


Works Cited:
1) Delaney, Carol
2004 Investigating Culture. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA.
2) Sherman, Lawrence W.
2001 Trust and Confidence in Criminal Justice. 21-22
3) Ford, Richard and Fresco, Adam
2008 UN Condemns Britain's Celebrity Cocaine Culture. Electronic Document, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3486141.ece. Accessed December 3.
Image sources:
1) http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2006/stylechannel/gallery/bw_couples/will_smith300x400.jpg
2) http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2006/stylechannel/gallery/bw_couples/will_smith300x400.jpg

Charity Case

Instead of (or in addition to) blowing their money on the latest designer clothes, newest car, or drugs and alcohol, many celebrities instead choose to lend their time and money to charity. Some of the most influential celebrities are the ones who go beyond the red carpet and give to charity. Bono, Paul Newman, Oprah, Shakira, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Natalie Portman immediately come to mind as stars who use their powers for, well, good rather than evil. Looktothestars.org (http://www.looktothestars.org/) is a website that tracks celebrity charity work, charities with celebrity supporters, and causes that celebrities endorse. The "celebrities" page is filled with a seemingly endless list of names of celebrities that support a wide array of charities and causes, from Autism Speaks to the Surfrider Foundation. Websites like this show that celebrities can and often use their fame to benefit others.
I think that it's important to note that, for some, becoming involved in a charity is a long, arduous process. "Lisa Szarkowski, spokesman for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, said that becoming a goodwill ambassador for the children's and women's assistance organization is a rigorous commitment that includes fund-raising, media appearances and a 'large education process'" (1). Thus, I believe that it is safe to assume that Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie, and Sarah Jessica Parker are all committed to their causes. I don't think that it matters if a celebrity joins a cause to repair a tarnished image - those in need are still benefiting from the celebrity's actions, whether altruistic or not.
In addition to donating money and time to charities, celebrities also appear in ad campaigns for causes. Pop singer Fergie, for example, has appeared in ads for The Candie's Foundation, which aims to prevent teen pregnancy, as well as MAC's Viva Glam campaign for AIDS awareness. Ad campaigns are a very useful way for a celebrity to show endorsement of a cause. The public will directly link that star's image with the cause they are advertising. Ad campaigns also effectively use the media - when a star joins a cause it's bound to get attention. Thus, stars are using the media, a force that often harms rather than helps them, to put forth their own agenda.


Works Cited:
1) CNN Contributors
2006 Causes Celebre: Celebrities and Their Causes. Electronic Document. http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/20/celeb.causes/index.html. Accessed December 2, 2008.

Images:
1) http://fieldnotes.unicefusa.org/LLinDRC1.jpg
2) http://www.candiesfoundation.org/img_popup2.html?fergie_700.jpg

Celebrity in Chief?

Celebrity and politics are becoming increasingly intertwined. Arnold Schwarzenegger (and Ronald Regan before him) is governor of California. John McCain appeared on "The Rachel Ray Show," Barack Obama on "The Late Show With David Letterman," Joe Biden on "The Today Show," and, of course, Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." Of course, these TV appearances have become necessary if candidates want the public's attention, and whoever has the larger "celebrity status" will likely win the election. It's a matter of name recognition - completely uninformed voters will often vote for the names that they recognize, regardless of the agenda behind that name. However, when Heidi and Spencer of The Hills endorse John McCain's presidential campaign and Christina Aguilera, P. Ditty, and Justin Timberlake (as well as many other celebrities) participate in ad campaigns for Rock The Vote, one has to wonder if politics is being dumbed down or trivialized to appeal to the American people. "It's not that the candidates have entirely given up serious speeches, solemn debates and aggressive political attacks. It's that their dance cards also are thick with appearances and events designed to entertain us. Sometimes, the contrast is jarring" (1).
"With the rise of new technologies such as cable television, talk radio, and the internet, the news business has become very competitive and more likely to focus on gossip and prominent personalities." (2) In addition, campaign costs have skyrocketed over the past decade, making celebrity endorsements/appearences on the campaign trail an efficient way to raise funds without spending much. "This need for cash forces politicians into alliances with athletes, actors, and artists who can headline fundraising events. In order to guarantee a large turnout at a fundraising party, it has become common to feature comedians, singers, and other celebrities who can attract a large crowd" (2). Celebrities and politicians have developed a reciprocal relationship - celebrities have the media's attention, and politicians have credibility. Both need each other to get their views out to the public.

After the Vietnam War and Watergate scandals in the 1960's, both the public and news media became far more skeptical of politicians. Elected officials lost the trust of the people they needed most: voters and the media. The voters to keep them in office, and the media keep their PR up by printing good things about them. "In many cases, celebrities are seen as white knights who can clean up the political establishment and bring new ideas to public policymaking. They are not tainted by past partisan scandals or political dealings. They are seen as too rich to be bought" (1).



Works Cited:
1) Marla Puente
2008 Hail to the Chief Celebrity? That's Politics Mixed With Entertainment. USA Today, October 12.
2) Darrel M. West
2003 Celebrity Politics. Electronic Document. www.insidepolitics.org/HedgehogReviewCelebrityPolitics.doc. Accessed December 2, 2008.
Images:
1) http://www.fashionphile.com/blog/tag/kim-kardashian/
2) http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20071210/293.obama.winfrey.121007.jpg