Celebrity Obsession: Who's to Blame?

It may have begun with Alexander the Great, maybe the risqué life of King Henry VIII. Arguably, the modern age of celebrity obsession began with the screaming, crying teen-age Beatle fans and John Lennon's declaration of being bigger than Jesus.

At least partly due to technological advances and the ability to distribute information in an instant, our culture's obsession with the lives of celebrities is at an all time high. It appears to be a very complex game of cat and mouse and dog, celebrities feigning fame and glamour, average joes fueled by fantasies of money and beauty, paparazzi giving into greed and capitalizing on the obsession.

Even current celebs that have been in the business for awhile marvel at the growth in fascination. This may lead one to wonder, who is to blame for this cultural descent into delusional madness?

Many would argue, especially those making careers on the coattails of the famous, that celebrities deserve what they get. It's suggested by many that celebrities by getting rich and famous forfeit the right to privacy. In most cases this includes the right to perform everyday mundane tasks such as going for a workout, eating, or even a doctor's visit. It seems as though these celebrities also forfeit the rights of their children, friends, and loved ones as well.

Most celebrities cannot argue, however, that at some point in their blossoming careers they dreamt about getting into the news, magazines, and gossip columns. Many celebrities would also fear the pain felt when one realized he was washed up and no longer worthy of gossip, probably a good indication of dwindling success.

Fans with the aid of technology are now able to boost someone to near instantaneous fame. They are also able to discard an unwanted celebrity quickly. Driven by the need for risk-free excitement in their personal lives, fans retain a high demand for fame, beauty and scandal.