Do we create Celebrities out of our Collective Consciousness?

[Guest guest]

Creating more of a frenzy than the latest suicide bombing, genocide in

Darfur, and the Presidential campaign combined, media outlets are

having a field day reporting the biggest celebrity fiasco of the week:

Paris Hilton has officially been sentenced to a 45 day jail term

 

Some people are calling the sentence, for driving on a suspended

license, appropriate and justified. For all the complaints of

slap-on-the-wrist celebrity justice, where savvy, high-paid lawyers

and swift negotiations can seemingly get anyone out of anything, this

seems at first glance like a welcome change. It’s true that fame is

not a free pass to ride above the law. And if anything, this could be

a (if somewhat cruel) karmic reminder to the young socialite that she

is, after all, a mere mortal.

 

Beneath all of this, though, is a disturbing trend in our society

which creates celebrities out of thin air, to the point that they are

worshipped, given reality shows and endorsements, and constantly

gossiped about- and not just in the tabloids. Even CNN, Time magazine,

and other respected news sources are beginning to focus more energy

and airtime on reporting the latest triumphs and tragedies of

20-something celebrity girls. And why are they doing this? Because it

is what the public (as a collective majority) wants. Why do you think

US Weekly sells more copies than the Economist? In a capitalistic

society where the driving forces are profit and viewer ratings, it’s

simple: we get exactly what we ask for.

 

We have created out of our collective consciousness the very same

“celebrities†that we now pretend to hate. The media reports on even

the most trivial details of the lives of people that we don’t even

really know: who they’re dating, what they’re saying. What they’re

eating, where they’re staying. This sort of intense and obsessive

scrutiny comes out of people’s own unconscious desire to experience

something outside of themselves. Maybe it is because people find their

own lives mundane, or perhaps they crave the excitement of living

vicariously through someone else. If nothing else, gossip provides

good water-cooler fodder (“Heard about the latest Brangelina baby?…â€).

 

But perhaps instead of focusing on other people, we should bring the

focus back to ourselves. By creating a sense of positive energy and

motivation about what we are doing in our individual lives, gossiping

about other people becomes less entertaining. By creating and living a

life that we love, one full of accomplishment, excitement, and

fulfillment, we should learn to be the celebrities of our own lives.

As someone once said: Average people talk about other people. Smart

people talk about events. Brilliant people talk about ideas, theories,

and concepts.

 

Because after all, celebrities are not really the problem; they’re a

projection of who we choose to elevate and focus our attention on.

Their biggest crime is simply being who they are and doing what they

do (which is what makes them successful in the first place). It is the

public’s morbid fascination with beauty and wealth, of bringing people

up and then bringing those same people down, that is the true insanity.

 

What are your views on this celebrity obsession and collective

consciousness?

 

Thanks you

[Guest guest]

Namaste Empirys!

 

Good observations, indeed.

 

We get the field we are looking for. In fact, we are projecting the

field where we have to work out our vAsanAs.

 

The new crop of celebrities are always there. They never bothered

me. That would only mean that they or theirs is not the field for me

to work out my vAsanAs.

 

So, if the problem of the world unjustifiably raising celebrities

bothers you, that, indeed, is a problem for you to take care of.

Ignore it by just being a passive witness and turn yourself to

creative fields. You will notice that the celebrities don't bother

you any more. Inspite of them and the hallabaloo they make, you are

yourself.

 

It is the way of the world to raise someone to the top on the crest

of a tidal wave of change and then dump him/her in an abyss without

any warning. Let the world do its wont. Be a witness and just watch

it. You remain unharmed and unhurt. That is the best way you can be

a celebrity of your life. The other celebrities don't count then any

more.

 

Pranams.

 

Madathil Nair

____________________

 

advaitin , " empirys " <partyous wrote:

>

>

> By creating and living a

> life that we love, one full of accomplishment, excitement, and

> fulfillment, we should learn to be the celebrities of our own lives.

> As someone once said: Average people talk about other people. Smart

> people talk about events. Brilliant people talk about ideas,

theories,

> and concepts.

>

> Because after all, celebrities are not really the problem;

they’re a

> projection of who we choose to elevate and focus our attention on.

> Their biggest crime is simply being who they are and doing what they

> do (which is what makes them successful in the first place). It is

the

> public’s morbid fascination with beauty and wealth, of bringing

people

> up and then bringing those same people down, that is the true

insanity.

>

> What are your views on this celebrity obsession and collective

> consciousness?