abolish celebrity
some thoughts on celebrity culture
I’m co-facilitating a conversation on divesting from celebrity culture tomorrow June 18th 5PM PST / 8PM EST. There’s still time to register. I hope to see you there!
I do not dream of celebrity. I do not dream of fame. I choose community and freedom every time. Over the money and the luxury, over the power and influence. I think we’ve moved past the need for celebrities. I can’t think of a time they were necessary to begin with.
This class of people-shaped-corporations are alway asking us for things. Demanding our attention, time, and/or money. Wishing we would stop expecting things from them, like denouncing genocide. Wishing we would let them celebrity in peace, don’t we know what they’ve sacrificed for our entertainment.
Have we forgotten the script. We, the devoted uncritical fanbase. Them, the special infallible beings. Not gods but not quite human like us. Somewhere in between, living lives we can only dream of. Meant to be aspirational yet always out of touch. Some will defend these million and billionaires because the marketing has worked. We are told these are our friends, there is a connection here. See they mentioned us, their loyal fans, in their acceptance speech.
I want to be influenced deeper into community. To be told to do more to show up for people on the other side of the globe. Persuaded to move in ways that challenge the status quo. I will celebrate my homies and turn off the award shows. I can live without being up to date on the latest celebrity gossip. I won’t wither into nothing if I choose to not spend my whole paycheck on concert tickets.
And celebrity is unethical. Look at all the wealth hoarded and the labor exploited. See how they are foot soldiers of capitalism. Agents of the state, kissing the hand of the crown. Playing pretend in revolutionary themes and aesthetics. Moving on when it’s no longer edgy or lucrative. Siding with apartheid states, writing letters and donating lots of money.
And celebrity is theater. We don’t know these people, not really. They pretend to love us so we can love giving them our resources. They’ll even pretend to care about the world if it’s trendy enough. If they get a call from the United Nations, they’ll be a goodwill ambassador in a heartbeat. Humanitarianism is good for the brand.
And celebrity is shield, from accountability. Too big of a name to be able to commit such terrible actions. House-hold names just don’t do things like that. They made my favorite songs or are my favorite comedian or hosted my favorite childhood show or is my favorite athlete. They couldn’t do that. The court found them innocent so I can still play their music and if they did it I’ll just separate the artist from the art.
And celebrity is distraction. They want us to focus on them and not one another. Watch the red carpet interviews, read the gossip magazines, and do not think critically about your favs. They are never tools meant to keep us unaware and preoccupied. Fill your head with facts about each celebrity and leave no space for anything else.
We cannot continue the way it is. This misuse of power by the few must end. We who believe in people power can divest from the rich and famous. We can unfollow and block. We can invest in other things. We can build a future without these hierarchies and supremacy.
The world I dream of has no need for paparazzi. There are no rich and famous to speak of and we all have more than enough. We pay attention to the needs of others. And there is still entertainment and joy. We have reciprocal and boundaried relationships with those whose work we value. We refrain from putting people on pedestals. I dream of a world without celebrity.
Media i’ve been engaging with related to celebrity culture:
Celebrities Aren’t People. And Neither Are You. | Shanspeare
Why Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized | AP
Jay-Z Says There’s No Shame in Success, Compares Being Called ‘Capitalist’ to the N-Word | Billboard
This Video Isn't Just About Taylor Swift. It's About You. | Alexander Avila
YES, being a billionaire is terrible. even when you're taylor swift. | Swiftologist
Stan Culture: The Vanity Mirror of Capitalism | The Financial Diet
How Taylor Swift Profits From Parasocial Delusions | Robert Tolppi
We Need to Talk about Taylor Swift's Politics and Corporate Liberal Feminism | The Kavernacle
banned books + the rise of rainbow capitalism: rupaul's disaster book club | Jack Edwards
Parasocial relationships & Taylor’s Role in Creating Them | itsthenugget
wa Ngamĩro, meaning of or from Ngamĩro. Ngamĩro, a gourd used to hold milk and my maternal great-grandmother's name. an ode to vessels and also my grandmother who was of - from Ngamĩro. this is a space for exploration, curation, na meciria makwa (and my thoughts). wa Ngamĩro is a monthly-ish newsletter.
Sending you radical care and appreciation🌱
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