I Am Not a Role Model

 

As members of the masses, we view celebrities as a mold of what success at the highest possible level can be. Even though success is defined differently depending on whom you ask, the commonality is that celebrities have enough social capitol and impact to cultivate such devotion. It is natural for one to be consumed by the events of their own lives whether they are positive or negative, but as we observe the lives of celebrities there is always a constant positive energy. They always seem to “”have it together” and handle the hysteria of their own life worlds so well. This admiration cultivates other emotions that surround the celebrity and give way to the creation of myths involving parts of their life we do not see. In order for these myths to gain support, the celebrity needs to be relatable. Laderman suggests that religions have an on-going need for images to attach our beliefs to. Magazines and tabloids fill this void, offering deeper insight into the lives of celebrities that are not specific to characteristics that make them famous.

Fans eventually change their position to that of a devotee, as they collect more information about their favorite celebrity fostering a deep emotional connection. This connection is made possible by the portrayals of celebrities as people who are indeed like “us”. After the connection is made and deepened, an icon transitions into an idol. In our minds the more they seem like us, the more feasible it is for us become like them. According to Laderman, humans want to be like other humans and it is a timeless saying that mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery. It is not as noticeable if I adopt the mannerisms of Brad Pitt or the persona of George Clooney. We imitate celebrities as means to gain social capitol similar to theirs. As we navigate the age of instant gratification, we have devised more innovative ways to assume a celebrities likeness in our quest to attain their social capitol.