Abstract
Although the idea of a celebrity has been around for a long time, its mutation into an important cultural force is a relatively recent development. In recent decades the meaning of a celebrity has altered and is now often applied to those who are famous for being famous. The ascendancy of the celebrity has been fuelled by society’s uneasy relationship with the question of authority. Often celebrity provides an alternative source of validation. The tendency to outsource authority to the celebrity represents an attempt to bypass the problem of legitimacy by politicians and other figures.
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Further Reading
Barry, E. 2008. Celebrity, cultural production and public life. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 11, 3.
Couldry, N., & Markham, T. 2007. Celebrity culture and public connection: Bridge or chasm? International Journal of Cultural Studies, 10, 4.
Franck, E., & Nuesch, S. 2007. Avoiding ‘Star Wars’—celebrity creation as media strategy. Kyklos, 60, 2.
Friedman, L. 1994. The republic of choice: Law, authority and culture. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Jaffe, A. 2006. Modernism and the culture of celenbrity. New York: Cambridge University Press.
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Furedi, F. Celebrity Culture. Soc 47, 493–497 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-010-9367-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-010-9367-6