[We're going to pretend that missing last week was my version of a SOPA/PIPA blackout, but I won't be complaining about SOPA/PIPA here.]
This post is likely going to be incredibly hypocritical because even I find myself fascinated with the lives of people who are more famous than I (read: pretty much anyone). I find people's fascination with celebrities fascinating....and depressing.
We, as humans, are given one life on this Earth (as a fleshy meatbag; we're going to have something a lot bigger on which to focus when we return as souls). The fact that we would spend any time entranced by someone else's is almost laughable. Let me first qualify by saying that our lives should be spent focused on others. This is not a contradiction: we need to be spending our lives making others' lives better, not sitting around looking at others.
Let me make a distinction as to what I mean: celebrities are people we don't know (to a large extent; some people actually know celebrities, but my focus is on people who are fascinated by people they've never met). I don't think anything positive can come out of focusing our time and energies on lives we cannot affect. We should be using those resources on positively affecting someone's life (or, secondly, our own). Kim Kardashian is not going to have a positive turn in her life because you watched the television show detailing her life. Spending that time to feed someone, fellowship (that's a nice word for "hang out") with someone, do work, worship, pray, etc. will definitely have a positive effect. It's no wonder that celebrities are often called "idols" because they certainly are idols in our lives.
What's worse is that contemporary celebrities are often famous because they simply exist. At one point in time, I'd like to think famous people were men and women of valor, courage, and determinism (by that I mean they are determined (focused on a goal), not that they enjoy probabilities of 1). When we look at people like the aforementioned Ms. Kardashian (whether she's "Miss" or "Mrs." is non-deterministic), we see a person who is famous simply because she exists (or because she had a sex tape, but do we not realize how many people have sex? (and sadly, how much of it is available to view?)).
We are living out our fantasies through these people. We subscribe to their twitter or facebook feeds (or Google+ if celebrities are on there and subscribable, I'm actually not sure). So I say, live out your own life and focus on making that as good as it can be; anything preventing you from doing this is not worth it. I think this is what we're scared of: that our life isn't what we want it to be.
Now please don't feel like this is a personal attack on you or even a specific group of people. It is a problem with all humankind. The person writing this blog watches Jersey Shore (funniest show on television) and spent a lot of his time, back in the day, playing The Sims (which is living out your fantasies in a digital life, even more pathetic). This is something we all need to work on.
Right on dude. To me, the most interesting/depressing aspect of celebrity followers stems from the fact that most of the celebrities are actors. If you think about it, the allure of these people is what we've seen them do while pretending to be other people. E.g., most people who followed Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston storylines did so because of how much they liked Rachel Green, a fictional New York fashionista.
ReplyDeleteWow, good point that I'm sad to say I didn't even think of. We worship people who are not their real selves the majority of the time we see them (and then we're astonished when they go out and buy a cup of coffee (just like every other person in the Western world)).
Deletei really like this post. I must admit to being a reality show junkie (including kim kardashian's shows) and absolutely have a huge crush on kanye west. That being said, I think that there is nothing wrong with watching them per se, but when you start obseesing with them, or they consume your life (i cant go to bible study because its the same time as Jersey shore) then you should re-prioritize things. maybe we should start something where we consciously decide to do something (like feed hungry peeople) instead of watching a popular, meaningless show (like kourney and kim take new york, etc). Almost like a boycott.
ReplyDeleteWho in their right mind would schedule Bible Study during Jersey Shore? It's a good thing that the episodes are available online, haha. On a more serious note, yes, we do need to schedule/re-prioritize people ahead of things. And this goes for all things, not just stupid television shows. I often question how much better the church would be if we stopped going to church for an hour every Sunday and spent that time at a soup kitchen.
DeleteI <3 Justin Beiber. ;)
ReplyDeleteoh and you forgot to mention at the end your obsession with Team Jacob. ;)
Ah, the great thing about being the author is the ability to pick and choose which things to embarrass himself/herself about. I can't let everyone know I'm with Team Jacob, I might alienate half my fanbase.... ;)
DeleteWow, that would be a great idea Will. Like maybe one or two Sundays a month, instead of going to church you do some type of volunteer service. they can even still post a mini-sermon online so if you want to continue to study the Bible (which is all what church is really) than you still have something
ReplyDeleteI can't let you get away with that "...all what church is really" comment, but first I'd agree that a balance between the two (serving the community in a tangible way and having a church service) would be great. As far as that comment about church goes, it's a lot more than just Bible studying (in fact, that's what a "Bible Study" should be about), and more about the church community aspect. It's a place to gather with like-minded believers and worship God, fellowship, and learn/grow (most of this is gleaned from the Bible, but it's more about carrying it out rather than studying it).
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