I could write about our stomach bugs that are rendering us useless of all normal life, but I am sure you have all been there!
Instead, saddened as many about the recent death of Whitney Houston, and reminded what a strange world 'celebrity' really is, I choose to give my observations on this instead (for what they are worth).
Like it or lump it we are stuck with the influences of celebrity in our lives one way or another (Unless, like one of my friends you live litterally up a mountainside and away from the modern world!) Tempting at time though that is!!!
Whether we absorb these images from billboards, magazines or the TV, they are there and subconsciously have an effect on how we view both ourselves and our world.
Some of us, choose to not dwell on these images as much as others. The huge variety of Women's magazines on the newsagents shelves , coupled with the reality TV programmes cramming viewing space, however suggest there is an insatiable appetite for 'Celebrity'.
As you know I teach teenagers. Part of one of my courses is all about the influence of the media on the way we think.
There is a very interesting picture in the text book.
It is of a pitifully thin African woman and her very sick child.
The caption reads "Do you think this woman worries about her weight?'
We discuss it.
I also spend a large part of my time finding glossy images of celebrities then asking friends to scan their newspapers for images of them with no make up or looking normal. We put the two images together. It is very enlightening to see, minus the computerised effects, make up artists and such, how normal these people look.
The students often say 'Gosh they look just like us'.
That is perhaps because they are just like us.
I hate and abhor this 'diva' image.
Yes they work hard.
So do I, so do many of my friends, family and most of the people I know.
So why then do we edify their jobs above our own?
Just because their job flings them into the spotlight?
Is it more interesting?
I think anyone who has spent a day on a film set or watching modelling will be the first to say just how and boring it really is. The reality is very different from the image.
I do not understand why some are then filled with their own self importance.
Perhaps it is because others put them there because they are now famous, a celebrity.
Why then does this make them more special? more worthy?
Reading all the newspaper reports of Whitney Houston this morning made me feel very sad.
Once upon a time she was a normal little girl who sand in the local church choir.
Suddenly she was discovered and catapulted due to her amazing voice to stardom.
Like so many she found ways of coping, drinks, drugs and prescription pills.
Looking at the images of her as this self destruction took this toll, made me feel it was not very glamourous at all.
Not one bit.
I hope that these images will make people think a little more. I am not convinced.
I guess we all suffer from being influenced by what we see. Will it really work? Will it make us feel happier/ more content/ more popular.....
Really we need to be looking inside of ourselves rather than hoping some external product will help, or dreaming that if we marry a footballer this will metamorphose ourselves into a different life. One look at the ones featured in magazines will tell you how insecure they are too. When you have an image, you then have to maintain it.
At least that's one thing I don't need to worry about!
As Julia Roberts famously said in the film 'Pretty Woman" , 'it's easy to look this good when you have money'.
That is true. It is easy to look nice when you can afford all the expensive clothes, make up, personal chefs, cleaners etc......
But does that make anyone in these features truly happy?
I really do admire the celebrities who keep their private lives private. Who do not parade their children around and let them grow up as children away from the spotlights and glare, away from people who will make them feel they are special just because of an accident of birth.
The ones who quietly work for charities, who give percentages of their money to doing good, who do not have a photo opportunity at every moment.
As you can imagine my lessons on the influence of the media in our lives are interesting to say the least! Poor Whitney will be added to the many tales I have for my students on how fame can affect you.
I will fondly remember her from my youth, in the film 'The Bodyguard', before the true destruction took it's toll.
One of the Grammy nominated stars was interviewed yesterday and asked if the industry should do more to support the stars, in response they said that all 'this' meaning the awards, were truly meaningless and stars should do well to remember family and love were so much more important.
Wise words.
Instead, saddened as many about the recent death of Whitney Houston, and reminded what a strange world 'celebrity' really is, I choose to give my observations on this instead (for what they are worth).
Like it or lump it we are stuck with the influences of celebrity in our lives one way or another (Unless, like one of my friends you live litterally up a mountainside and away from the modern world!) Tempting at time though that is!!!
Whether we absorb these images from billboards, magazines or the TV, they are there and subconsciously have an effect on how we view both ourselves and our world.
Some of us, choose to not dwell on these images as much as others. The huge variety of Women's magazines on the newsagents shelves , coupled with the reality TV programmes cramming viewing space, however suggest there is an insatiable appetite for 'Celebrity'.
As you know I teach teenagers. Part of one of my courses is all about the influence of the media on the way we think.
There is a very interesting picture in the text book.
It is of a pitifully thin African woman and her very sick child.
The caption reads "Do you think this woman worries about her weight?'
We discuss it.
I also spend a large part of my time finding glossy images of celebrities then asking friends to scan their newspapers for images of them with no make up or looking normal. We put the two images together. It is very enlightening to see, minus the computerised effects, make up artists and such, how normal these people look.
The students often say 'Gosh they look just like us'.
That is perhaps because they are just like us.
I hate and abhor this 'diva' image.
Yes they work hard.
So do I, so do many of my friends, family and most of the people I know.
So why then do we edify their jobs above our own?
Just because their job flings them into the spotlight?
Is it more interesting?
I think anyone who has spent a day on a film set or watching modelling will be the first to say just how and boring it really is. The reality is very different from the image.
I do not understand why some are then filled with their own self importance.
Perhaps it is because others put them there because they are now famous, a celebrity.
Why then does this make them more special? more worthy?
Reading all the newspaper reports of Whitney Houston this morning made me feel very sad.
Once upon a time she was a normal little girl who sand in the local church choir.
Suddenly she was discovered and catapulted due to her amazing voice to stardom.
Like so many she found ways of coping, drinks, drugs and prescription pills.
Looking at the images of her as this self destruction took this toll, made me feel it was not very glamourous at all.
Not one bit.
I hope that these images will make people think a little more. I am not convinced.
I guess we all suffer from being influenced by what we see. Will it really work? Will it make us feel happier/ more content/ more popular.....
Really we need to be looking inside of ourselves rather than hoping some external product will help, or dreaming that if we marry a footballer this will metamorphose ourselves into a different life. One look at the ones featured in magazines will tell you how insecure they are too. When you have an image, you then have to maintain it.
At least that's one thing I don't need to worry about!
As Julia Roberts famously said in the film 'Pretty Woman" , 'it's easy to look this good when you have money'.
That is true. It is easy to look nice when you can afford all the expensive clothes, make up, personal chefs, cleaners etc......
But does that make anyone in these features truly happy?
I really do admire the celebrities who keep their private lives private. Who do not parade their children around and let them grow up as children away from the spotlights and glare, away from people who will make them feel they are special just because of an accident of birth.
The ones who quietly work for charities, who give percentages of their money to doing good, who do not have a photo opportunity at every moment.
As you can imagine my lessons on the influence of the media in our lives are interesting to say the least! Poor Whitney will be added to the many tales I have for my students on how fame can affect you.
I will fondly remember her from my youth, in the film 'The Bodyguard', before the true destruction took it's toll.
One of the Grammy nominated stars was interviewed yesterday and asked if the industry should do more to support the stars, in response they said that all 'this' meaning the awards, were truly meaningless and stars should do well to remember family and love were so much more important.
Wise words.
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