The Impact of Celebrity Culture on Our Ordinary Lives

The impact of celebrity culture on our ordinary lives

I attempt to shape the thinking of people, I have been at it for years. That's what I do, I teach college students, Pastors and church members through lifestyle, sermons, articles and conversations. That may seem a bit presumptuous but I sometimes wonder if I am making a scrap of difference, you see I think most Christians and people of other/no faith are more influenced by the prevailing culture than the bible!

We live in a celebrity culture - a fact borne out by TV viewing figures and magazine sales. OK, Hello and Now, celebrity-gossip magazines are sold in their millions year on year, the huge viewing figures of 'X factor' and 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here' tell a story. Many a 'Christian' coffee or bedside table 'owns' a copy, and celebrity TV is required viewing in our homes too.

Jordon, Simon Cowell, Becks and Tiger Woods are simply the lead characters in a perpetual 'real life' soap opera that feeds our fascination with the famous. But is this trend harmful? Has not every generation had its hero's, is it just innocent fun? Does celebrity culture trivialise life? Does celebrity create personal dissatisfaction with 'my body shape or lifestyle?' Do they create a harmful role model?

But, is it all bad or are there positive aspects that benefit society? Some celebs use their notoriety to promote good causes! Others try to promote awareness of worthy causes. But let's consider a few of the more sinister aspects of celebrity culture, altitudes that perhaps come under the radar, ask yourself, how badly have I been influenced by 'celebrity culture!'

Beauty

How about 'Beauty' it's a hot word. The 'celeb advert' is usually a young, symmetrical, skin-and-bone, tanned woman (or man) swishing back their gorgeous hair, smiling with blinding even white teeth at your screen - "I had SUCH problems with my hair/skin/body etc; until I used THIS product!", Popular celebs sell a lifestyle through Cars, Homes, clothes, IT, mobiles fashion, they say to us "if I want try life and happiness" buy me. Manufacturers budget huge amounts to have their product on the film set, or associated with celebs. To say we live in a celebrity-obsessed culture is evident to all, however the challenge is, how do we prevent Christians, especially our children from becoming beguiled by the prevailing 'celebrity' culture?

In Psychology Today, writer Carlin Flora suggests that our fascination with celebrity is a cultural obsession with the three A's affluence, attractiveness and achievement our common goal. A's affluence, attractiveness and achievement are desirable and in themselves