Celebrity Worship

The phenomenon that takes hold when a star dies young is intriguing, even more so that those who mourn them do so remembering them as more than a singer with an amazing voice or a talented artist with a big heart, despite never having truly known them. Fans express their sorrow as if they were parting with an essential part of themselves, leaving a gaping hole in their culture and identity. However, if one looks at this through Ward’s previous notion that the uplifting of an idol is a projection of the crowd’s desired identity, then does this not mean that the public grief is instead a worshipping of this desired image?

Ward also continues to explore the idea of celebrity culture as a type of not-so-religious religion, something he comes to term “para-religion”. It expresses the limited nature of celebrity worship, such that it can never progress or develop into a full blown religion even if he acknowledges the curious similarities between the two. This can be noted through the behavior of the public who actively plays a role in their sustenance. Many of them act in ways that may be similar to certain religious traditions, the group Ward terms as the Believers. They engage in discussion about the latest news and gossip about their celebrity, follow their whereabouts, buy their products, etc. The anti-fan club consists of the Hipsters, those who actively take a stance against the popular culture and demonstrate their distaste (or presumed indifference) for it. There is the remaining larger proportion of people, the bystanders, the Game-Players. They watch, they silently judge, and the effects of popular culture only exhibits in them subtly. By identifying with their groups, “fans” or anti-fans participate in a form of self-construction and a building of social relationships. This building of relationships amongst people who share similar views is the central theme for fandom, not the artificial relationships that extremely devoted fans seek in order fulfill their social desires. 

Celebrity culture is also a phenomenon that is much “in the air”. People recognize the celebrities and feel like they know who they are, even if they do not particularly keep up to date with the 411. It is as if people constantly have “half an eye” on them, whilst continuing about their lives as if it did not affect them. Interestingly, this draws a parallel to the nature of religion in and its believers. There will always be those who only keep half an eye alert and “recognize”, yet do not truly “know”. There will also be those who detest it altogether. However, Ward realizes that if celebrity culture were ever to be a religion, it could never be stable, nor capable of ordering institutions and societal structures. Because of its wavering values, it will not fully be established or grounded. Even fans themselves deny any religious association with their idols. 

Gods Behaving Badly, Chapter 1 - Pete Ward

Read on:

• An un-British style of mourning
• A New Age of Celebrity Worship (CBS)

A Penny for Your Thoughts?

• Ward talks about fandom having a sort of “intimacy at a distance”. The audience is allowed to get to know the celebrity through the magazines, the talk shows, the scandals, their life stories, etc. It seems like a one-sided relationship where the fan does not truly have to work at or put effort into, yet they take pleasure out of following a celebrity’s intimate life. It seems to be that there might be a natural human desire to worship someone. (Even in the case of Christians when describing the reasons what God means to them) Why do you think this is so?
• Do you agree that idolization of a celebrity is a projection of the individual's desired self and in effect, a validation of their desired image? Then, do you agree that fan clubs validate every member's desired identity, in mass? Why, or why not?