In 1961, Daniel Boorstin coined the word 'celebrity'. He said: "the celebrity is a person who is known for his well knownness."
There can be no doubt that celebrity blogs are among the most popular on the internet. But why? what is it about celebrities that fascinates us so much?
One explanation is that new forms of media like television, the internet (and especially blogs) have allowed celebrity to become a new art form that competes with other arts like television, movies, books, and plays.
Let me explain what I mean. The world of celebrities could be thought of as a vast multi-character show. There are main characters and supporting characters. Most important is that each character has an interesting story. This is why Queen Elizabeth, though extremely famous, isn't followed by paparazzi - there's no interesting story there. Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, on the other hand, always have an interesting plot line, and we never know what is going to happen next. From other art forms, we all know that sex and violence make a story more interesting, and that is what gets the most coverage on celebrity blogs.
Like other art forms, the best stories teach us lessons about life. Shakespeare is considered the best dramatist of all time because his stories taught us about every aspect of being human. I would argue that celebrities do that for us too. We are fascinated by them because they tell us about ourselves. They teach us lessons about life, love, drug use, and parenthood.
On an even grander scale, it teaches us about the human condition, and it gives us a common experience around which to form a national community. Celebrities entertain us, they unify us, but they also educate us. In today's fractured society with fewer and fewer common experiences, celebrity blogs may be just what we need.
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