Celebrities faces have become a huge aspect of our "American life." They constantly pop up on commercials, billboards, newspapers, online, and all sorts of advertisements. Some TV shows "cribs" tour celebrity homes while magazine's are dedicated to following the lives of the rich and famous. Celebrities break laws or win awards and fill up the front pages of our national news. Yes celebrities have become an obsession to every group in American society.
What we don't usually recognize is the alternative impact these celebrities have on our culture. They have also become a portal of informing the public on what they believe are significant issues. They raise awareness by their action, such as Bono's anti-poverty "One" foundation and Angelina Jolie's charity missions.
So as our culture obsesses on the lives of celebrities, it is only natural that the American people also take and interest on the healthcare and medical conditions our stars who become sick. Following allow celebrities to spread information about public health and get messages across about healthcare issues. They raise the awarness of diseases, pressure for more research and new treatments, and may give reassurance to those who have the their same illness.
While time spent following celebrities typically brings bad reputation, those that are apart of the obsession may be expanding their knowledge in medical issues and information.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/because-celebrities-get-cancer-too-695133.html
Agreed on all fronts. For me, the interesting dilemma with getting celebrities involved is that it's a bit like letting a genie out of a bottle... you never know what direction things may go in. For every Bono who's a serious activist, there's a Mel Gibson or some other person who may get in trouble, misspeak, or otherwise divert attention, or focus the wrong kind of attention, to your cause. Also, sometimes celebrities challenge prevailing practices, leading to tensions with scientists and public health groups (see Jenny McCarthy on vaccination as Exhibit A...). Thus, celebrity can cut both ways...in the case of Lance Armstrong and cancer research, the power of celebrity as a positive force for education is undeniable. Others, however, can be a mixed bag...and their power as celebrities may also vary with the state of their careers. Come to think of it, the state of their careers may also influence their desire to get involved in causes in the first place...
ReplyDeleteI agree that celebrities have done admirable work in the efforts of raising awareness to certain diseases, but I believe that we should evaluate their intentions with a grain of salt. Like Dr. Hackey commented the state of their careers may influence their desire to get involved or not in a certain program or organization. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I can't help but question the intentions behind some celebrities; are they getting involved to shine a more positive light on their self-image? Everyone loves a do-gooder, but when I think of characters like Michaele Salahi (she's one of the Real Housewives of D.C. on the Bravo network)I wonder if she only recently announced her condition of M.S. to gain sympathy from the media. The first season of the show recently ended with the finale showing the State House controversy which she and her husband were involved in. People felt as if she had made a mockery of the White House, so is she now only trying to be the new face of the M.S. society to gain pity from the general public or was the timing of the announcement coincidental? This is only one example of a questionable celebrity figure's position within a health care organization, but I wonder if there's more like her out there.
ReplyDeleteI think the question of what to share, and when to share it, is a very valid one. Our culture does provide incentives to stay "in the news" ...
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