Comments on: The public fascination with celebrity is a symptom of the emptiness of a consumerist lifestyle. http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/ A cautionary tale in development Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:27:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bill http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-4122 Bill Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:07:36 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-4122 I think the public has always had a fascination with celebrities. Michael Jackson is one that a lot of people don't understand the fuss because they are put of by the weirdness and the allegations or just don't like his music, but for those who are fans of pop music it makes sense to me that there's going to be a lot of commotion when the King of Pop dies young. In Ancient Rome gladiators had their devoted fans. Bonnie and Clyde had their fans. Every culture looks up to somebody - kings, athletes, musicians, bank robbers, poets - it's always been that way. I think the public has always had a fascination with celebrities. Michael Jackson is one that a lot of people don’t understand the fuss because they are put of by the weirdness and the allegations or just don’t like his music, but for those who are fans of pop music it makes sense to me that there’s going to be a lot of commotion when the King of Pop dies young.

In Ancient Rome gladiators had their devoted fans. Bonnie and Clyde had their fans. Every culture looks up to somebody – kings, athletes, musicians, bank robbers, poets – it’s always been that way.

]]> By: razzbuffnik http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3748 razzbuffnik Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:14:12 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3748 Tony Hear! Hear! I agree completely. Tony

Hear! Hear! I agree completely.

]]> By: Tony http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3747 Tony Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:29:27 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3747 I never will understand people's obsession with celebrities. I don't get that people in the case of Actors get so much money for "Pretending" for films or TV. Or becoming World Famous for just playing music or singing songs. In my opinion the Heroes ar police, ambos, firefighters & other emergency workers. Also the average men/women who contribute properly to society by their daily normal jobs without which society would fall apart. Yet when one of the average normal people die who really cares except their family & friends, the media doesn't give a toss. MJ was a talented person but when it comes to the crunch all he really did was sing songs. Plus he was just so damned weird & freakish. Yet he is hailed a star. Wasn't that long ago the media was judging & condemning him for his wacky ways now he being portrayed as almost godlike by them Faecal Germs... Glad I don't live on Beazley St. I never will understand people’s obsession with celebrities. I don’t get that people in the case of Actors get so much money for “Pretending” for films or TV. Or becoming World Famous for just playing music or singing songs. In my opinion the Heroes ar police, ambos, firefighters & other emergency workers. Also the average men/women who contribute properly to society by their daily normal jobs without which society would fall apart. Yet when one of the average normal people die who really cares except their family & friends, the media doesn’t give a toss. MJ was a talented person but when it comes to the crunch all he really did was sing songs. Plus he was just so damned weird & freakish. Yet he is hailed a star. Wasn’t that long ago the media was judging & condemning him for his wacky ways now he being portrayed as almost godlike by them

Faecal Germs… Glad I don’t live on Beazley St.

]]> By: razzbuffnik http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3741 razzbuffnik Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:19:39 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3741 Epic I'm starting to think it's cultural thing. I suspect that you and I come from cultures that don't have all that much time for people who feel sorry for themselves, particularly when they seem to have so little reason to, in comparison to people who really have terrible lives. I know that here in Australia at least, that even one's friends won't let you wallow in self pity for very long and they will give you kick in the proverbial to get you to move on with your life. By the way, one of my favourite bands at the moment is a Kiwi group called, "Fat Freddy's Drop". Epic

I’m starting to think it’s cultural thing. I suspect that you and I come from cultures that don’t have all that much time for people who feel sorry for themselves, particularly when they seem to have so little reason to, in comparison to people who really have terrible lives. I know that here in Australia at least, that even one’s friends won’t let you wallow in self pity for very long and they will give you kick in the proverbial to get you to move on with your life.

By the way, one of my favourite bands at the moment is a Kiwi group called, “Fat Freddy’s Drop”.

]]> By: Epicurienne http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3739 Epicurienne Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:33:16 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3739 Actually, Razz, we just have to face it: we're not Michael Jackson people. End of. I went to a gig recently for a Maori band called Hui-a based in London and that event brought a tear to my eye. They've taken traditional Maori sounds and blended them with modern beats. Great stuff! Now that's my sort of music and from what I see of your musical taste, you'd like it, too. We don't have to join the MJ bandwagon. We just march to the beat of our own drum and it ain't necessarily Top 40. Actually, Razz, we just have to face it: we’re not Michael Jackson people. End of.
I went to a gig recently for a Maori band called Hui-a based in London and that event brought a tear to my eye. They’ve taken traditional Maori sounds and blended them with modern beats. Great stuff! Now that’s my sort of music and from what I see of your musical taste, you’d like it, too. We don’t have to join the MJ bandwagon. We just march to the beat of our own drum and it ain’t necessarily Top 40.

]]> By: Epicurienne http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3738 Epicurienne Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:28:15 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3738 Well, Razz, I hear you, I do. What I find particularly sad about the death of MJ is that it so eclipsed the end to Farrah Fawcett's brave struggle with a truly horrible cancer. That was something we could all learn from (as opposed to overdosing on prescription meds) but she's barely been mentioned since MJ died. I've never been a groupie in the sense that I cried when pop stars got married or kissed posters on my bedroom wall. I just don't get it. But millions of people ARE like that so perhaps this is a case of live and let live? On the other hand, I do admit to changing the radio station I was listening to yesterday because every other song was by Michael Jackson. Enough already. If he really had so many physical problems to deal with, I would have had far more respect for him if he'd openly used his celebrity to help others with the same afflictions, as opposed to hiding behind masks. I only hope his kids aren't as damaged by their unusual upbringing as MJ seemed to be by growing up in the public eye. Well, Razz, I hear you, I do. What I find particularly sad about the death of MJ is that it so eclipsed the end to Farrah Fawcett’s brave struggle with a truly horrible cancer. That was something we could all learn from (as opposed to overdosing on prescription meds) but she’s barely been mentioned since MJ died.
I’ve never been a groupie in the sense that I cried when pop stars got married or kissed posters on my bedroom wall. I just don’t get it. But millions of people ARE like that so perhaps this is a case of live and let live? On the other hand, I do admit to changing the radio station I was listening to yesterday because every other song was by Michael Jackson. Enough already. If he really had so many physical problems to deal with, I would have had far more respect for him if he’d openly used his celebrity to help others with the same afflictions, as opposed to hiding behind masks. I only hope his kids aren’t as damaged by their unusual upbringing as MJ seemed to be by growing up in the public eye.

]]> By: Pat Coakley http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3727 Pat Coakley Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:10:16 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3727 So, go to the window like Peter Finch in "Network" and yell out, "I'm fed up and am I'm not going to take it anymore!" Seriously, Razz...I do not get why this makes you so angry you could scream. If I put on my psychologist's hat, I might have some theories but I'll spare you those...the whole point to me is that many people think others have "it all" and in fact they don't. Isn't this just another very public, sad example? On a lighter note, I tried to make an angel food cake yesterday from scratch for my neighbors who just had a baby girl. Angel, girl...get it? Anyway, I made three cakes in the course of the day..all worse than the next. If they fell on my toe, they would have broken my foot. I went through containers of egg whites, real egg whites, confection sugar, almond extract. Not one eatable bite!! So much for the fly by the seat of your pants approach. I'm going out today and buy Betty Crocker's Angel Food cake mix and call it a day. So, go to the window like Peter Finch in “Network” and yell out, “I’m fed up and am I’m not going to take it anymore!”

Seriously, Razz…I do not get why this makes you so angry you could scream. If I put on my psychologist’s hat, I might have some theories but I’ll spare you those…the whole point to me is that many people think others have “it all” and in fact they don’t. Isn’t this just another very public, sad example?

On a lighter note, I tried to make an angel food cake yesterday from scratch for my neighbors who just had a baby girl. Angel, girl…get it? Anyway, I made three cakes in the course of the day..all worse than the next. If they fell on my toe, they would have broken my foot. I went through containers of egg whites, real egg whites, confection sugar, almond extract. Not one eatable bite!!

So much for the fly by the seat of your pants approach. I’m going out today and buy Betty Crocker’s Angel Food cake mix and call it a day.

]]> By: razzbuffnik http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3725 razzbuffnik Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:02:59 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3725 Tysdaddy “a morbid fascination for human tragedy.” I felt like looking at him, was like looking at a train wreck about to happen. Too horrific to look at. Pat The problem I have for MJ is that he had what so many people don't. He had it all, money and talent to burn, but he choose to loose himself in spiral of narcissism and self indulgence. In my area there are a few Sudanese refugees that somehow have got through the horrors of their early lives and are having a go at getting on with the rest of their lives. I tend to judge people (yep, I do that) by what they do and say. I've never heard anything resembling intelligence come out of Michael Jackson's mouth and his off stage behaviour was at best, weird, and at worst, perversely criminal. "Ah! as the heart grows older It will come to such sights colder" Never truer words said and it's true, I've seen many things that have hardened my heart to the passing of the likes of Michael Jackson. It's also true no one with any sense ever asked for Mr Jackson's opinion about weighty things but other celebrities are constantly being asked about such things whilst those who actually know what they are talking about get ignored because an over indulged first world public has the audacity to think that their own lives are crap. If people in the richer countries (like yours and mine)stopped focussing on the lives of celebrities and had a look at what's going on in the rest of the world, they'd realize how good they've got it. This whole situation bugs me so much I could just scream! Tysdaddy

“a morbid fascination for human tragedy.” I felt like looking at him, was like looking at a train wreck about to happen. Too horrific to look at.

Pat

The problem I have for MJ is that he had what so many people don’t. He had it all, money and talent to burn, but he choose to loose himself in spiral of narcissism and self indulgence.

In my area there are a few Sudanese refugees that somehow have got through the horrors of their early lives and are having a go at getting on with the rest of their lives.

I tend to judge people (yep, I do that) by what they do and say. I’ve never heard anything resembling intelligence come out of Michael Jackson’s mouth and his off stage behaviour was at best, weird, and at worst, perversely criminal.

“Ah! as the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder”

Never truer words said and it’s true, I’ve seen many things that have hardened my heart to the passing of the likes of Michael Jackson.

It’s also true no one with any sense ever asked for Mr Jackson’s opinion about weighty things but other celebrities are constantly being asked about such things whilst those who actually know what they are talking about get ignored because an over indulged first world public has the audacity to think that their own lives are crap.

If people in the richer countries (like yours and mine)stopped focussing on the lives of celebrities and had a look at what’s going on in the rest of the world, they’d realize how good they’ve got it.

This whole situation bugs me so much I could just scream!

]]> By: Pat Coakley http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3722 Pat Coakley Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:32:36 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3722 Oh, boys, boys, boys...take a deep breath....I'm not aware of anyone who was interested in MJ's opinions of the Iraq war or even the music business BUT when I watched and listened to his videos and watched him moonwalk in 1983 at the Motown tribute? It was thrilling, no pun intended. I don't ever remember reacting to performances on video or on TV as I did to his. Did I go to a concert? No. Did I even buy his music? No. But, I've not done space travel either and, yet, I still can see and enjoy the brightest stars on a clear night. That this particular star seemed to eclipse all others in talent and terrors was obvious. He didn't cut off his ear, but he mutilated his body and sadly, for the past 20 years, his talent. All of us, can relate to not living up to our possibilities, or not handling our gifts and our talents, no? I think more of Gerard Manley Hopkins on this news, O, Margaret, why are you grieving over Goldengrove unleaving? We all go off the rails sometimes, and those with fame, celebrity, and wealth can go off more visibly and more spectacularly, but it all leads to the same spot: bizarre behavior and inner black holes that suck the life out of you. I take odd comfort in knowing that no one will be watching LIVE as our dead bodies fly through the air to the medical examiner's office, though. Celebrity? NO THANK YOU. Oh, boys, boys, boys…take a deep breath….I’m not aware of anyone who was interested in MJ’s opinions of the Iraq war or even the music business BUT when I watched and listened to his videos and watched him moonwalk in 1983 at the Motown tribute?

It was thrilling, no pun intended. I don’t ever remember reacting to performances on video or on TV as I did to his. Did I go to a concert? No. Did I even buy his music? No. But, I’ve not done space travel either and, yet, I still can see and enjoy the brightest stars on a clear night.

That this particular star seemed to eclipse all others in talent and terrors was obvious. He didn’t cut off his ear, but he mutilated his body and sadly, for the past 20 years, his talent.

All of us, can relate to not living up to our possibilities, or not handling our gifts and our talents, no? I think more of Gerard Manley Hopkins on this news, O, Margaret, why are you grieving over Goldengrove unleaving? We all go off the rails sometimes, and those with fame, celebrity, and wealth can go off more visibly and more spectacularly, but it all leads to the same spot: bizarre behavior and inner black holes that suck the life out of you.

I take odd comfort in knowing that no one will be watching LIVE as our dead bodies fly through the air to the medical examiner’s office, though. Celebrity? NO THANK YOU.

]]> By: tysdaddy http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/comment-page-1/#comment-3719 tysdaddy Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:25:23 +0000 http://blog.allthedumbthings.com/2009/06/26/the-public-fascination-with-celebrity-is-a-symptom-of-the-emptiness-of-a-consumerist-lifestyle/#comment-3719 Interesting interpretation of a wonderful poem. Someone once wrote that we have "a morbid fascination for human tragedy." I wonder how many people are grieving MJ just because they feel like they have to . . . Interesting interpretation of a wonderful poem.

Someone once wrote that we have “a morbid fascination for human tragedy.” I wonder how many people are grieving MJ just because they feel like they have to . . .

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