| Americans, and indeed many people around the | | | | Legends and Film and TV Careers featured celebrity |
| world, are hooked on celebrity news and gossip. Our | | | | profiles and interviews. It was in this period that |
| media centered world feeds this obsession. By all | | | | many magazines began featuring more salacious |
| accounts, this Hollywood star worship continues to | | | | material to boost circulation. That led to this era's |
| grow. | | | | tabloids which include the National Enquirer, the |
| We can discern three reasons for this phenomenon: | | | | National Examiner, Star and US. Although some |
| 1) Identity-- Here an individual identifies with a | | | | stories are largely fabricated, readers want to believe |
| particular celebrity. This is the image and personality | | | | it and it's the writer's job to make each story sound |
| he or she would like to be in the imagination. Even | | | | credible. Although most celebrities decry the tabloids, |
| the meek and downtrodden can dream of being | | | | their own publicists often suggest story lines to |
| Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone defeating the bad | | | | magazine editors. One fact is certain, sensational |
| guys in high style. How many coming of age baby | | | | news is big business and the demand for this type of |
| boomers wished they were Elvis, a Beatle--or Ann | | | | entertainment continues unabated. |
| Margaret? | | | | Television and celebrity news are an ideal match. |
| 2) Diversion-- Psychologists know that a depressed | | | | Sound, moving images and an enthusiastic host |
| individual will become less so when he or she can | | | | makes for addicting viewing. Entertainment Tonight |
| focus on some outer experience, any neutral or | | | | began broadcasting in 1981 and set the benchmark |
| pleasant experience that breaks the obsession with | | | | for slick and fast paced half hour episodes focusing |
| self. Although most celebrity seekers are not | | | | on Hollywood news with a focus on controversial |
| depressed, this plays into the celebrity centered life. | | | | star behavior. Cable TV outlets such as CNN, |
| It's pleasurable for the individual to see images of | | | | A&E, and even your local newscast often |
| very attractive and well known stars and it's a break | | | | include celebrity centered programming. E! network |
| from day-to-day routine activities. | | | | owes its very existence to celebrities and their |
| 3) Esteem Build-Up-- We've all done it even if we | | | | foibles. And Hollywood celebrities still make of the |
| know it's not our best moment. We feel momentarily | | | | majority of late night shows' guest lists. |
| good about a celebrity's messy and very public life, | | | | Many younger fans get their news primarily from the |
| especially for a multi million dollar earner with many | | | | internet. A recent Google search brings up over 18 |
| adoring fans. These public humiliations make us feel | | | | million hits for "celebrity news." RSS news feeds are |
| that perhaps our lives are more successful than we | | | | available to bring the latest news of your favorite |
| take credit for. We may not make millions of dollars | | | | stars right to your desktop. Recent upstart TMZ has |
| or appear on the big screen, but at least most of us | | | | become an internet powerhouse. TMZ has the |
| have not engaged in drunken brawls, entered luxury | | | | corporate backing of AOL and Telepictures |
| re-hab for the fourth time or driven a car with a | | | | Productions, a division of Warner Bros. The web site |
| baby on our lap! | | | | has garnered attention from other entertainment |
| Backgound | | | | outlets by publishing Mel Gibson's DUI police report, |
| Hollywood's influence has been felt in American | | | | showing an image of Tom Cruise and Katie Holme's |
| culture for decades. Movie fan magazines began in | | | | daughter's birth certificate and presenting a cell phone |
| 1911 and prospered through the decades with names | | | | video of Michael Richard's racial outburst at a comedy |
| like Photoplay and Modern Screen leading the pack. | | | | club. |
| By the late 1940ss and 1950s, America's growing | | | | The internet is a solid match for those looking for |
| wealth spurred adolescents and young adults to buy | | | | images of their favorite stars. A single site can hold |
| and read these magazines in even large numbers. | | | | many thousands of images, all cataloged by name. |
| Magazines of this era included Photoplay, Modern | | | | Web searchers can copy and paste these images for |
| Screen, Silver Screen, Movie Fan, Movie Story, | | | | their own personal use. Popular destinations include |
| Screen Album, Screen Stars, and Screen Stories. | | | | personal blogs, My Space profiles or other social |
| Features were typically lightweight and often | | | | networks, and as computer desktop screen savers |
| centered around shopping dilemmas for hounded | | | | and wallpaper. |
| stars or stories from the set of a new movie. The | | | | Is this modern day obsession with celebrity harmful? |
| slick color photos were really the centerpieces of | | | | As with anything, if it interferes with conducting your |
| these magazines. | | | | daily life, it just may be. But as a leisure time activity, |
| By the 1960s, specialty magazines such as Screen | | | | it's no more than a harmless and enjoyable diversion. |
