Bigger than Jesus?

Nietzsche prophesised that society’s belief in Christianity was coming to an end and this may result in a new era where people could rejoice in this newfound freedom. Unfortunately he did not foresee the cult of celebrity. The bible has been replaced by a plethora of glossy magazines, each one more base than the last. Instead of a monotheistic god we now have a huge database of super cool demi-gods. The opinion of the latest flavour (or should that be flava?) of the month is now Gospel.

We are now a nation obsessed with the cult of celebrity. We are swamped with a vicious onslaught of pointless celebrities, the more pointless the better. Celebrities have replaced the classic notion of the hero. But instead of being respected for talent, courage or intelligence, money, style and image are now the deciding factors in what commands respect. Although I’m not sure it’s respect in the true sense of the word. A kind of pseudo-respect, as I don’t believe anyone could really respect something as one dimensional as a celebrity.

Personal achievement is no longer of importance. Image is everything. And perhaps more importantly, the re-invention of image. Madonna, Robbie Williams, David Bowie and Kate Moss, to name but a few, are prime examples of successful re-invention of image. But the constant re-invention of image makes a very bold statement that no one seems to pick up on. It is saying that celebrities are just hollow vessel to be filled by marketing. Their image is painstakingly constructed by a multitude of different image consultants to carve out the most profitable celebrity they can. The tragic fact is that some people want to be a certain celebrity so much that they follow every word they say and buy every product that they endorse. But what happens when a celebrity changes their image and views? Then society is right behind them, believing in everything that celebrity believes in. But these rapid changes result is a sort of nihilism, where nobody actually believes in anything. Apart from celebrity.

This wanton devotion to celebrity is a neo-capitalists dream. It embodies the ideology of “Think less, Buy more”. Companies know that people will buy a product if a celebrity has it too. The iPod is a perfect example. There is no doubt that if the iPod hadn’t been so vigorously promoted by pretty much every celebrity, it wouldn’t have had the sales that it has. It is as if the person buying the product feels that they now have some kind of connection with the celebrity and that some of their perceived happiness will now be past onto the consumer. So to look at it one way, the cult of celebrity is really nothing more that a sophisticated marketing scheme.

But these allegiances with celebrities can have more dire consequences. With the constant quest for image perfection, cosmetic surgery is widely regarded as the quickest way to “perfection”. Cosmetic surgery is almost like a quota to be checked on route to becoming a celebrity. In fact, some people have been awarded celebrity status because of their obsession with surgery. That cat faced woman, Lola Ferrari and Jordan are just a few examples of people who society and the media have deemed worthy to gain celebrity status. Un-pc freak shows have been taken out of seedy circuses and projected into mainstream media. These people obviously have some very serious self image issues that need to be addressed through some kind of counselling, not through bodily mutilation. Self image cannot be improved through surgery because as soon as you modify your body in such a way, you are essentially not you any more. You are not changing to be happy with yourself; you are changing to “fit in” with societies, media influenced, perception of beauty.

This celebrity obsession with cosmetic surgery is now filtering through to society as a whole. Since 1997 cosmetic procedures have risen by 465%, with surgical procedures (Breast augmentation, face lift) rising by 118% and non-surgical (Botox, chemical peel) procedures rising by an unconceivable 764%. With celebrity endorsement and the notion of “well everybody is doing it these days”, people are coming to the misguided conclusion that cosmetic surgery is safe. Especially in the case of “non-surgical” cosmetic “surgery”. Although it may not be surgery in the true sense of the word, it can still cause serious complications. Chemical peels can be incorrectly applied causing extensive scaring to the face and botox can be incorrectly administered leaving the face completely paralyzed and causing the face to droop. But all this seems of no importance because you have to keep up with the Osbournes.

There also seems to be a worrying trend in celebrity endorsed political parties. Politics has fallen out of fashion with young people, so parties now have to appeal to them not by policies, but by celebrities. It’s quite a worrying thought that people will vote for a party just because a celebrity does. “Hey kids, we pollute the world, sells arms to Iraq and kill little puppies for a giggle. Now here’s Jordan….. It’s just another celebrity endorsement that takes the complexity out of free thought and offers hope to the hopeless. Vote Labour, drink coke and buy an iPod and you too can be just like Jade Goody and be famous for being an idiot.

Celebrity though cannot be blamed for all negative aspects of society. In reality society is to blame. We are the people who seemed to have lost the ability to think for ourselves. I suppose it’s easier to be told what to think, rather than challenging what we are told. It is society who elevates these vain, one-dimensional, image obsessed freaks to god like status. The reason we are swamped by celebrity is because there is a demand for it. We have a choice. A choice to say no and a choice to respect people who deserve it.