Spring Break
It's not all glitter and glam
Mary Dixon
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Opinion
As children, many of us wished for the fame of celebrities. They are the royalty of our society. However, few of us actually understand the hardships that come with such a high social status. Celebrities are under constant surveillance. They are followed by both photographers and fans, bombarded with requests for autographs and pictures, and have problems even going out for a meal. Even worse, sometimes their lives are put into jeopardy. Obsessed fanatics have more than once been willing to commit crimes in the hopes of catching the attention of their favorite celebrity.
Take, for example, Jodie Foster's obsessed fan John Hinckley Jr.-his attraction stemmed from Foster's role in the movie Taxi Driver. After many failed attempts to contact her, he formed a scheme to kill the president, which mirrored the plot of the movie. In 1981, Hinckley attempted to assassinate the newly elected president Ronald Regan.
Lindsay Lohan is another celebrity that has faced danger due to her fame. Recently, Lohan was attempting to leave a restaurant when a paparazzo crashed into her Mercedes-Benz to capture the photo. If Lohan wasn't a celebrity, he would have never attempted something so dangerous.
An extreme example is the death of Princess Diana. In 1997, traveling through Paris, her car was chased down by photographers trying to snap a picture of her with her new boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed. In the Pont de L'alma road tunnel, her car was pushed into the support pillars and she was killed. Not only was this a loss of a wonderful woman, it was the loss of a world figure.
It isn't right that celebrities cannot leave their home or do something as simple as having dinner without worrying about being put in harms way because of their fame.
Celebrities are normal people with high profile jobs. No one should suffer because of his or her talent. Those who don't live in the limelight don't face the same stressors that a national figure does.
Some argue that when people reach a certain level of fame, they have to accept the struggles that come with it.
One way to stop the madness? Society in general needs to stop idolizing these people on the level that they do. Appreciating the talent and art of someone is only natural; however, stalking and other types of obsessive behavior are unacceptable.
As part of our pop culture, we have grown used to following the lives of the famous. Flipping through a gossip magazine while waiting in the check out line is a common practice. If we notice something outrageous or scandalous printed on the cover about our favorite celebrity, of course we will pick it up and read it. We are entertained by the rich: the more tragic the story, the more likely it will catch our interest.
Celebrities are normal people, and it's horrible that they face continuous worry because they excel at their art. Celebrities are not gods, they are people like us.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Take, for example, Jodie Foster's obsessed fan John Hinckley Jr.-his attraction stemmed from Foster's role in the movie Taxi Driver. After many failed attempts to contact her, he formed a scheme to kill the president, which mirrored the plot of the movie. In 1981, Hinckley attempted to assassinate the newly elected president Ronald Regan.
Lindsay Lohan is another celebrity that has faced danger due to her fame. Recently, Lohan was attempting to leave a restaurant when a paparazzo crashed into her Mercedes-Benz to capture the photo. If Lohan wasn't a celebrity, he would have never attempted something so dangerous.
An extreme example is the death of Princess Diana. In 1997, traveling through Paris, her car was chased down by photographers trying to snap a picture of her with her new boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed. In the Pont de L'alma road tunnel, her car was pushed into the support pillars and she was killed. Not only was this a loss of a wonderful woman, it was the loss of a world figure.
It isn't right that celebrities cannot leave their home or do something as simple as having dinner without worrying about being put in harms way because of their fame.
Celebrities are normal people with high profile jobs. No one should suffer because of his or her talent. Those who don't live in the limelight don't face the same stressors that a national figure does.
Some argue that when people reach a certain level of fame, they have to accept the struggles that come with it.
One way to stop the madness? Society in general needs to stop idolizing these people on the level that they do. Appreciating the talent and art of someone is only natural; however, stalking and other types of obsessive behavior are unacceptable.
As part of our pop culture, we have grown used to following the lives of the famous. Flipping through a gossip magazine while waiting in the check out line is a common practice. If we notice something outrageous or scandalous printed on the cover about our favorite celebrity, of course we will pick it up and read it. We are entertained by the rich: the more tragic the story, the more likely it will catch our interest.
Celebrities are normal people, and it's horrible that they face continuous worry because they excel at their art. Celebrities are not gods, they are people like us.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
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