Have you ever, like me, felt that our nation's obsession with celebrities has gotten way out of hand? A lot of people know more about influencers (at least about the carefully curated images they post) than they know about their neighbors or even family. A lot of us listen to actors and models over trained experts on scientific matters such as climate change and vaccines. We even went and elected a reality show host president. If, like me, you find yourself wondering what's up with that you'll really want to read Landon Y. Jones' Celebrity Nation.
Jones, former editor of People magazine, starts by drawing a crucial distinction between a hero and a celebrity. He defines a hero as "a person (of any gender identity) of great dreams and great deeds who takes great risks and endures sacrifices to lead others into the future. A hero's fame cannot be manufactured; it is hard earned."
In contrast celebrities can easily be manufactured. Especially in the ascendancy of social media they can be known simply for being known. And with AI they don't even need to be human.
Starting with the ancient Greeks, Jones describes the history of the contrasting roles of hero and celebrity and the ascendancy (and danger) of the latter. What I found most alarming was the shift from the good of the community to self absorption and the need for constant adoration.
If you are wondering what is going on in our increasingly celebrity obsessed nation Celebrity Nation is an excellent addition to your to read 📚 pile.
On a purrrsonal note, of course Tuesday I got out and voted. In Maine we had two important questions. Question one was an initiative to restrict who could vote by steps like requiring documents many people don't have access to. It would selectively disenfranchise people likely to vote Democrat. Question 2 was about restricting access to guns by people who there's reason to suspect might use them against an ex or in an active shooter incident. I was thrilled to learn that 1 lost and 2 won by huge margins. This election wasn't a shitsttorm like last year's.
A great big shout out goes out to all who did their civic duty and 🗳. Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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