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Highly recommend Leo Braudy’s “Frenzy of Renown”. Basically considered the default text in the field of celebrity studies. Braudy’s hypothesis is the celebrity

Highly recommend Leo Braudy’s “Frenzy of Renown”. Basically considered the default text in the field of celebrity studies. Braudy’s hypothesis is the celebrity has always been an inherently quasi-religious phenomenon. Religious only in the sense though of being post-death or of having an afterlife. Attaining celebrity is a transcendent goal in each generation a few can reach. Every era of society has a means of attaining life in the next world. This is often seen as the ultimate purpose / highest goal one can achieve. The best way to attain this is being known in eras beyond the one you live in. Sometimes this is via extreme piousness (sainthood), military and political conquest (history), or in modern conceptions, being so extremely known in the present it simulates a forever-knowing effect through everyone-knowing. Wish I could describe it better, but here is the book: https://www.amazon.com/Frenzy-Renown-Fame-Its-History/dp/0679776303 https://www.amazon.com/Frenzy-Renown-Fame-Its-History/dp/067...

nabla9 7y ago
There is sometimes direct connection. In some places if India, actors who play deity roles in TV-series based on Hindu mythology, get treated like gods by the poor people. In the US Oprah has clearly moved towards becoming spiritual guru/leader, "The Church of O". Certain actors, like Keanu Reeves. Tom Hanks etc. first get a good guy reputation, then they become like celebrity saints. First they probably were just a good guys, but now it has become a marketing angle that affects their actions.
- geodel 7y ago
  Also In India people treating as literal deities the movie stars like Amitabh Bachchan / Rajnikanth. One of my Indian friend would bow down to poster of Arnold Schwarzenegger in all seriousness and call him 'Shakti ke devta (English: God of Power)'
- burger_moon 7y ago
  Then there's Kayne, who now has a church service where he preaches on Sundays. It has a huge cult following from his stans.
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
In the sense of movies and stardom lasting long after death, sometimes increased, it's a more certain way to an afterlife than any religion. I see it in much simpler terms - wanting to leave a mark. Afterlife is after all, nothing more than being remembered by those who are still around. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, particularly Tutankhamen achieved it well. Just not as they imagined it all those years ago.

nabla9 7y ago

There is sometimes direct connection. In some places if India, actors who play deity roles in TV-series based on Hindu mythology, get treated like gods by the poor people. In the US Oprah has clearly moved towards becoming spiritual guru/leader, "The Church of O". Certain actors, like Keanu Reeves. Tom Hanks etc. first get a good guy reputation, then they become like celebrity saints. First they probably were just a good guys, but now it has become a marketing angle that affects their actions.

geodel 7y ago
Also In India people treating as literal deities the movie stars like Amitabh Bachchan / Rajnikanth. One of my Indian friend would bow down to poster of Arnold Schwarzenegger in all seriousness and call him 'Shakti ke devta (English: God of Power)'
burger_moon 7y ago
Then there's Kayne, who now has a church service where he preaches on Sundays. It has a huge cult following from his stans.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

In the sense of movies and stardom lasting long after death, sometimes increased, it's a more certain way to an afterlife than any religion. I see it in much simpler terms - wanting to leave a mark. Afterlife is after all, nothing more than being remembered by those who are still around. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, particularly Tutankhamen achieved it well. Just not as they imagined it all those years ago.