America the Shallow : Obsessed with Celebrity
It seems like our society is becoming more and more shallow with every passing second. It's hard to even imagine how much more shallow we can get. What's the cause of this? Why do so many revel in the details of the personal lives of celebrities? Why do so many people want to listen to disposable music and watch disposable television and movies?
It really seems as if it's becoming a crime to think in America today. It's becoming a crime to actually care about artistic merit. If I go to buzz.yahoo.com and check to see who the most searched for "musicians" are I'll get a list of nothing but pop tarts. Not a single real musician or artist among them. Why do so many more people want to read about Britney Spears than Radiohead?
It seriously pains people to think. It's just too much for them. The average American finds even more than a few moments of thinking to be way too taxing on their feeble little minds.
I'm exasperated. Every time I think our society has hit just as low as it can go. It gets worse. It seems the only thing to do is to ignore it.
More than ever there seems to be a great divide in our country. There seems to be the people that voted for George W Bush, that listen to cheesy pop music, and watch American Idol without fail. Then there are those who want nothing to do with any of this. Those that live in some sort of underworld where any sort of popularity is seen as a kiss of death. It hasn't always been like this. Has it? How was it that the great bands in the 60s had both artistic merit and widespread popularity? Were people just taking better drugs back then?
I'll tell you what, that's the best explanation I've found yet. If it takes widespread LSD use to get garbage like Britney Spears (or whatever pop tart is on the radio this week) off the television and radio then I'm all for it.
Published by Johnny Moon
Full time online marketer working from home since spring 2005. Writer? Novel. View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentI totally agree, and sometimes I can't even help myself from admiring them because they portray fantasy lives that people which they had. Think about it, would you rather have fun all day long, look good, and not have to assume responsibilities? Even for celebrity moms and dads, they have enough financial resources to hire ten nannies if they feel stressed out. The only great deed that I see some celebrities do is donating to the needy and less fortunate. Now, I see average Joes, including me, owning only one brand name car with only one brand-name watch, and some LV bags to copy the flashy celebrities. Sometimes, I'm ashamed to be so materialistic, but then I let the society get to me and just join in. I guess if you can't beat them, join them?
people say that the sexiest woman alive is halle berry. so , does that mean every other woman isnt as
"SEXY" as she is or is uglier than her ?
I'm a little late to comment on that very good article. I see we're on the same page. Unfortunately, it can get worse.
From time to time I meet people who can't understand why I don't listen to crap like Britney Spears or other junk mainstream music with no meaning at all.
If you go to the hairdresser nowadays there's no more interesting conversation only the latest celebrity gossip - shallow and boring.
I'm from Germany and it's the same over here, our country is dumbing down as well, even if some people over here wouldn't agree with me. Our TV program is nonsense bs except a few channels. It's all about celebrity, plastic surgery, outer appearance, fanatism etc. What bothers me the most is that people obviously stopped to think and ponder (especially for themselves). They believe in the hype, endless partying and binge drinking, worshipping celebrities and their fake lives, mass consumption.
The majority is hypnotized by the massmedia. And this is why quality gets los
Owl -- you missed the point. The dumbing down of America includes the fact Bush was elected TWICE and they bought his rhetoric regarding 9-11 in connection with Iraq. Worshiping Hollywood celebrites is a separate but related issue to the dumbing down of America.
Money is the root of all the nonsense you speak of. Americans no longer worship God they worship money, thats why idiots like Paris Hilton are popular. Its also why an ugly rich idiot can get a hot smart chick. And its also why other countries hate us.
Although I agree with your assessment of the dumbing down of America, I resent the implication that it is the conservatives who are pushing for it (those that voted for Bush). In fact, the Hollywood celebrities you speak of are overwhelmingly leftist, and probably did not vote for Bush.
I couldn't agree with you more about Hilton and Spears. In our society celebrity and talent certainly are not always synonymous. I'm not sure it's the drugs; it seems some people just care less now. They care only about themselves or nothing at all. Great article!