Celebrities are people who have achieved fame due to their work in entertainment, sports, politics, the news media and business. They may be actors, politicians, business men and women, singers, dancers, musicians and songwriters, authors, artists, activists and inventors. Celebrities can also be fashion models and other famous people who have become known for their appearance or style of dress. Some celebrities are well-known in one field and not others, but all have gained public recognition for their talent or achievements.
Celebrity is a form of attention capital, which refers to the amount of media coverage and interest that someone receives. There are three types of celebrity: ascribed, achieved and acquired. Hereditary titled people such as royalty, monarchs, princesses and duchesses automatically achieve ascribed celebrity status, as do celebrities who have been born into wealth or fame through marriage or inheritance, such as actors and athletes. Celebrities can also gain fame through their own achievements or talents, which is achieved and acquired celebrity. This is what most celebrities are known for, and it is what they strive to maintain throughout their careers.
The rise of reality television has blurred the lines between fame and anonymity. People who have never worked in the entertainment industry can now become famous for a brief period of time if they win a game show or make a big statement with their wardrobe. This type of celebrity is sometimes referred to as meta-celebity.
During the early modern period, as literacy and printing technology improved, many more ordinary citizens became interested in the lives of public intellectuals such as Voltaire, Rousseau and Byron. They wanted to hear their speeches and see their plays and paintings. The celebrity culture in this period was more about recognizing and idolizing a person’s accomplishments or achievements than it was about enjoying their private lives.
Celebrities can have a positive effect on society by encouraging aspiring entertainers and other famous people to pursue their dreams. They can also be role models by showing that anyone can achieve success if they work hard enough and remain focused on their goals. They can also help to educate the public about important issues such as mental health. For example, singer Ariana Grande has been very frank about her own experience with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and model Bella Hadid has spoken out about her social anxiety.
Despite the positive impact that celebrities can have on society, they are often subjected to much criticism and vilification. Some believe that they are not working as hard as non-celebrities and that their achievements are a result of luck or privilege. They are also criticized for their lavish lifestyles and for promoting unhealthy diets and harmful products. They are often portrayed as having lower moral values because their failures and flaws are made public. Parents can use these criticisms to help children develop a healthy attitude towards celebrities and encourage them to focus on their own personal accomplishments rather than trying to emulate the celebrities that they admire.
