Being Celebrity Is Bad for Celebrities - Essay Example

BEING CELEBRITY IS BAD FOR CELEBRITIES Contents Introduction 3 Assessment of the content 4 Right of privacy of celebrities 5 The rights of the Media 5 Impact of Media on Celebrities 6 Detrimental effects of false news and rumors 7 Stalking and staring 8 Defamation 8 Psychological impact 8 The life of Michael Jackson (MJ) 9 Overview of MJ’s life 9 Domination of the Music World 9 Death of Michael Jackson 10 Involvement of the Media in MJ’s life 10 The impact of Paparazzi on MJ’s life 11 What is Paparazzi? 11 How paparazzi affected MJ’s life? 11 Conclusion 13 References 14 Introduction The core purpose of this study is to examine how the extent and quality of celebrity coverage in the media could affect celebrity behavior. It is a fact that media broadcasts may contain information which is potentially harmful to the wellbeing and potential success of celebrities and it is also present in the media for the past few years. It is evident that media may indeed negatively affect celebrity behavior and psychology. There could be numerous forces which may directly or indirectly stand against the wellbeing of these celebrities and can also render their supposed good fortune in being ironic by making a mockery of the events which happen in the life of such personalities. Media law also binds traditional news sources to a huge extent and it is unlikely that inappropriate material could be published and broadcasted through these types of sources. The frequency at which news coverage of a particular celebrity is circulated does play a huge role on the popularity and notoriousness of the celebrity and it does help to gauge how it does affect their future performance and sustainability. (Rockwell, 2004) Assessment of the content Content analysis could be defined as “A method that is exploratory and interrogative in nature and predictive in intent”. Unlike researchers and media professionals who are able to use empirical methods and experiment for generating media report, content analysts are able to analyze data, printed matter, images and sounds to understand why they are important to people and how they present the information which is conveyed to them. The core function of content analysis is extremely valuable in this context because it results in demonstrating the extent to which occurrences information regarding celebrities can be investigated. The number of instances in which a certain type of information is broadcasted can serve as an indication of how the media is able to influence the life or personalities and it also assists in recognizing and understanding their personal matter. It is also believed that the content which has been presented by commercial media does offer the most authentic and most reliable news. It is also a reliable source which can help to examine the effects of the media on negative and unlikely celebrity behavior. (Semuels, 2007) It is evident that entertainment and also traditional media outlets include celebrity news on their web pages. There is always a deficit between the information which could be potentially harmful information and information which is genuine and authentic. This difference may not be huge and does prove the fact that mainstream news sources are pressured by entertainment focused sources which are able to offer more celebrity news which has always grown in popularity. Right of privacy of celebrities Celebrities are entitled to the right of privacy and solitude which can extend to any individual or even public figure. However, people get much excited and enthusiastic when they read or hear about the stories of their favorite personalities or public figures. Stories or articles which focus on public figures and celebrities often attract huge attention from public. Due to this reason, the private life of celebrities is often shattered due to the entertainment of the public. This idea was first proposed by Thomas Cooley in his “treatise on torts”. He had acknowledged the fact that the celebrities have a right to be alone and their private life should be respected. His viewpoints were later on published in the influential Harvard Law review Article which was entitled “The right to privacy”. (Slattery and Marcus, 2001) This article had focused on four main points: 1. Intrusion into solitude 2. Public disclosure of private facts 3. Depiction in a false light 4. Commercial exploitation of a person’s name and image It is interesting to note that the constant exposure which celebrities receive is quite intriguing and they are also aware of the fact that whatever they do or portray will be shown straight to the public. Though most celebrities are often “psychologically tolerant” of this fact but most celebrities want to cherish their privacy rather than expose their private life in public. The rights of the Media Though the press has often received the adequate freedom to print whatever is relevant and authentic but this freedom has at times been misused. Legal regulations in various countries do allow media professionals to perform their professional duties in a morally and ethically correct manner and never grants them any unrestrained right to gather information which is false and lacks substance. The authenticity of the news and publication by media depends on three very important factors: 1. The social value of the item published 2. The depth of the intrusion into private affairs 3. The extent to which the party assumed is prone to public notoriety Media professional are obliged to print whatever is true and legitimate but they have to abstain from publication which lacks evidence and defames an individual and affects his private life. Impact of Media on Celebrities It is very important from a neutral’s perspective to envisage celebrity news and make it a hot topic within a society. It is difficult to comprehend and analyze the extent to which people are able to value entertainment news was and how it can prove to be helpful in understanding its presence in the media and its impact on the public. Along with that, knowing why public is so engrossed and at times indulged with celebrity news is very important in comprehending the certain ways in which media is able to report it. • Sensationalism – Transformation of commercial media content towards sensationalism has been researched to a great extent so that it can be realized how drastic and unraveling the influence of entertainment can be. It is very important to investigate and analyze the sensationalism which media has been able to create, specifically when compared with online blogs and other sources of celebrity and superstar news. This also helps to understand the role of competition between media in escalating coverage of celebrity news. • Credibility and reliability – It is interesting to note how the public are able to view different forms of media and how it is able to prove that how viable and concrete a source is able to consider itself and how viable it considers itself when compared to other forms. Public rarely view weblogs and other online news as credible sources of information and that’s the reason why mainstream media sources such as TV and newspapers rarely feel pressurized to compete for the positions which they had held before. •Media law – By analyzing the legal and regulatory barriers which affect celebrity news coverage do prove helpful in understanding how the news which is related to celebrities it is generated. •Media ethics – When assessing moral and ethical barriers, media professionals rarely focus the impact it can create on the private life of celebrities and how posting undue amounts of celebrity news can have a fatal impact on their personal life. This should make people realize how it can aid in measuring the real value of entertainment in society. • Psychological breakdowns – Media rarely focus on the psychological stress and strain which celebrities have to bear and what additional impact paparazzi can create in such circumstances. It is very important to have an idea on the human psychology of stress, strain, anger, fear and narcissism to recognize how celebrities are affected by excessive news coverage, because these could be potential results of such coverage. It is difficult to assess how cruelty and extreme attention is able to affect the human psychology because they are present in the creation or broadcasting of such entertainment-news. Detrimental effects of false news and rumors According to Abdulla (2002), the publication of false information may have chronic effects on health of celebrities and they could have detrimental effects to the health of a particular celebrity because the constant pressure of maintaining a public image and respect will result in stressful psychological conditions which may include anxiety disorders, chronic diseases, eating disorders, headaches, body aches, insomnia, anxiety, frustration, anger and even depression. While trying to maintain public image, celebrities could also experience rage, fear and sadness which is caused by excessive media coverage and it leads to constant psychological and physical damage to celebrities. There are many ways in which celebrities are negatively affected by extreme media coverage that are difficult to demonstrate or that may only apply to certain stars. Stalking and staring Botting (1991), states that false news do have a fatal impact on the private life of celebrities. The fear of being constantly stalked at does increase anxiety and supplement chronic issues within people which are already present and they include certain chronic mental conditions. Defamation Fake rumors can be the primary source of defamation of celebrities and they can have a huge impact on the reputation and goodwill of celebrities. Additionally, readers can leave negative to celebrity blog posts, which can be critical for celebrities and even become unduly cruel and insensitive. It can also deny the celebrities from maintaining a positive image. Psychological impact The mere frequency or repetitiveness of coverage of a certain celebrity could be enough to cause that person stress, anxiety, strain, depression or any form of mental harm. But fake rumors and allegations may have fatal consequences. The effect on celebrity psyches and behavior of repetitive publication or broadcasting of a single topic which is untrue is unethical and needs to be carefully scrutinized. (APA, 2000) The life of Michael Jackson (MJ) Overview of MJ’s life Michael Joseph Jackson, also known as MJ, was born in 1958 and was the second youngest of 8 siblings. He is a true music legend and had become a superstar at the tender age of 11 as a member of his family rock band “The Jackson 5”. His solo career earned him the title "King of Pop". Although he had an extremely troubled and confusing personal life but it never affected his performance and his musical career had peaked almost instantly with the blockbuster “thriller” in 1982. His studio albums have all been classics. MJ is equally famous for his high energy and complicated dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. (Brown, 2009) Domination of the Music World It was strongly highlighted by Ryan (2005) that MJ had dominated the music world in the 1970s, 80s and even 1990s. His unique vocal style, rhythm and fashion were deemed to be perfect for the modern music genre. Jackson had become a true icon of pop culture and he was able to influence millions of people across the world through his music. Death of Michael Jackson The death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was a shock to fans all around the world. News of his tragic death had untimely traveled around the world within a few hours of the event. Though the precise medical circumstances of his death were unclear and no details were initially revealed for his death publicly. Michael Joseph Jackson had died on June 25, 2009, at age 50. At the time of his death, he left behind his parents, eight siblings and three children. The legacy of Michal Jackson is enviable and not only was he a gifted singer, songwriter, dancer and choreographer but he was also the most commercially marketable and successful entertainer of all time. (Spigel, 1990) There has been no concrete evidence how and why Jackson died. However, it does seem possible that misuse and abuse of prescription medications may be the core reason. Involvement of the Media in MJ’s life Jackson’s personal life had always created significant controversy and had earned him the nickname ‘Wacko Jacko’. MJ first came into controversy when he had plastic surgery on his face and had lightened his skin to look white. His reputation received a huge blow when he was alleged in being involved in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. Though the courts had cleared him on both occasions but it did have a negative impact on MJ’s life. (Taraborrelli, 2009) In the last 15 years of his life he was dogged by allegations that he had molested children. The culmination was a media circus and trial in which he was acquitted in May 2005. Media did play a significant role in the transformation of an individual like Michael Jackson from a mere pop singer to an immortal legend. There is a strong correlation between Television and the society we live in. Michael Jackson was definitely at centre stage for some very controversial issues such as Child Molestation, Sex, and Drugs and his public life has been openly considered and discussed by people with great enthusiasm. The independence of global media has allowed the massive transition from a humble entertainment medium to an eye-opening reality tool. It’s the task of the media professional to understand different challenges which celebrities face and pass them through to their colleagues so that they are prepared to face those challenges and know their consequences in the long run. (Boteach, 2009) The impact of Paparazzi on MJ’s life What is Paparazzi? The term paparazzi can be elaborated “as a freelance photographer or journalist who takes pictures of celebrities and stars for publication in magazines and newspapers.” There have been some interpretative problems and controversies which have been posed by paparazzi over the past few years. They have been infamous due to their consistent and annoying stalking of personalities on a consistent basis and they can also cross limits for the explicit shot or picture of the particular celebrity. (Semuels, 2007) How paparazzi affected MJ’s life? The negative portrayal of media of iconic celebrities, as in the case of Michael Jackson, does lead to a lack of sympathy for celebrities who suffer the effects of negative press news. However, there are also limitations to such news because it is difficult to determine the exact causes which are able to negative impact celebrity behavior and the extent of the effects which could well have on celebrities. Also adding to the fact is the existing mental conditions of the celebrities which may directly influence and impact the behavior of celebrities in addition to media coverage. According to Slattery and Marcus (2001), Michael Jackson’s life was always surrounded by Paparazzi and controversies and future research can investigate the possible content of media coverage of celebrities. Although this project has focused on the fact of the existence of content which could negatively influence a celebrity’s behavior and mindset but it did not focus on the direct or indirect effects publicity may have on media celebrities. Maintaining a particular image is made difficult by the paparazzi, which makes the effort to share information concerning a celebrity’s life. These details, public or personal, may cast a negative light upon him or her – and they may not even be true. The fact that there were more counts of exaggeration, opinion and potential falsity means that content. It was obvious that reactions to a particular characterization of Michael Jackson were never unanimous. Media and paparazzi were interested in his personal matters throughout his life and it propelled people how he blended childhood and adulthood in very different ways. Even with his confused and controversial racial identity, to which people had responded with a sense of appreciation as well as disapproval, general responses to Michael’s true identity remained segregated. Depending on the news spread by the media, public reaction fluctuated towards him from time to time and people had often responded with a different sense of attraction and repulsion towards his personality. One reason for the difference in public reactions to his racial and generational perception was that people have often been overtly preoccupied with race problems for quite a number of years now and the influence of media on his private life further exaggerated this issue. While there have always been controversies which have surrounded his age and maturity in the past, they have never ever received such attention as racial concerns. Just because of the involvement of the media and the paparazzi, the public has become more and more familiar with boundaries which divide racial identities rather than focusing on age and maturity. Conclusion To swiftly manage their private life, Celebrities should be given enough space and freedom so that they can focus more attention to their private lives. It is very crucial that they are to utilize their privacy effectively and adequate procedures are in place so that their life can go in with apparent ease. The analysis of Michal Jackson’s life proves that realistic plans have to be made by media regulators and to execute those specific plans it has to ensure that effective strategies are implemented at each and every level. Celebrities like Michael Jackson are popular throughout the globe and one fake rumor and allegation can have a fatal impact on their life. Along with that, a specific protection plan has to be in place for the privacy of celebrities so that risks arising from the exposure of their privacy are minimized to the lowest possible level. References Abdulla, A. (2002) “The Credibility of Newspapers, Television News, and Online News” Proc. of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Annual American Psychiatric Association (2000) “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” 4th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. Boteach, R. (2009) “The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation.” New York: Vanguard Press. Botting, F. (1991) Making Monstrous: Frankenstein, Criticism, Theory. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. Brown, B. (2009) Michael Jackson: The Man behind the Mask. New York: Select Books Rockwell, D. (2004) “Celebrity and Being-in-the-world: The Experience of Being Famous and Phenomenological Investigation.” Center for Humanistic Studies 2004:15-80 Semuels, Alana. (2007) “Newspapers, bloggers now on same page; Journalistic websites see amateur scribes as partners, not rivals. They increase coverage and may share revenue.” Los Angeles Times Slattery, K, and Marcus, L (2001) “Shifts in Public Affairs Reporting on the Network Evening News: A Move Toward the Sensational.” Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, V. 45.2 Spring: 295-298 Ryan, Y. (2005). The Way He Made Me Feel. United States: WII Books. Spigel, L. (1990) "Communicating with the Dead: Elvis as Medium." Camera Obscura 8 (1990): 176-205. Taraborrelli, J. (2009) Michael Jackson: The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, 1958-2009. New York: Grand Central Publishing. Convention, 7-10 Aug 2002, Miami Beach, FL Read More