Images of celebrity
“The nice thing about being a celebrity is that when people bore you, they think it’s their fault.” — Henry Kissinger, US diplomat
In showbiz and politics, people aspire to be famous and popular. Recognition seems to be the most important thing — good or bad.
A century ago, the playwright, actor, songwriter George Cohan once commented, “I don’t care what you say about me as long as you spell my name right.
The image of the celebrity is paramount. His/ her success is measured by public perception and acceptance. He/she projects a well-crafted, polished persona, one that highlights qualifications, solid achievements and assets.
The impressionable public has long been conditioned by media to accept the best-packaged media magnet. Fans and fanatics rush to buy the products, patronize movies, and vote — as endorsed by popular personalities. Other effective media tools are advertisements, infomercials, ratings reports (accurate or contrived), and a lot of hype.
Actors and TV broadcasters have the political advantage of visibility. They are easily recognizable. Name and face recall give these popular individuals the winning edge during elections. It does not matter is the stars are not capable of making significant contributions to society. (Other than to look tough in an action movie or fabulous in a commercial.)
An example is a media-genic star who aspired to be a national legislator. The bronzed hunk tried reinventing his image to gain acceptance on all levels. He dabbled in elite sports such as fencing, riding and golf. He ran several times and failed. Finally, he realized that he was shooting for the moon. When he scaled back his ambition, he made it in local politics. There he can shine as a hands-on official.
Mileage is a must — to compensate for a lack in qualifications. Ironically, a health buff endorsed both a vitamins antioxidant and a cigarette brand. Clearly he had his priorities mixed up. (Cigarette smoking is now banned on the streets and in buildings.)
Endorsements are the favorite vehicles for celebrity self- promotion to the masses. The TV ads offer an assortment of products plugged by public officials, political aspirants and actors — vitamins, toothpaste, alcohol, detergent, shampoo, milk, canned food, feminine products, and cosmetic enhancement procedures.