Elevations, Expectations and Etiquettes.

Since I started this blog, I seem to have grown up. No great surprise there I imagine you're thinking. However I mean ageing not in years but in maturity.

Mature.

I've always hated that word. It  can describe someone sensible and responsible, but at the same time I cant quite rid myself of the image of old, malodourous cheese...

But I digress.

"A positions of responsibility" was a tag I never expected to be connected to, but in my last year of sixth form the way people spoke to me, how people act around me has changed because of it. Said change was been subconscious and subtle- a knowing nod, a casual smile- but it was there. And possibly still is. I found my Head Girls Prize recently when I went back home and was doing a bit of tidying up. As well as bringing back nostalgia of public speaking and jacket potatoes, it got me thinking.

Since (apparently) some people 'looked up to me' I thought about who I look up to. There's the obvious family and friends, but what about celebrities? Why do we photograph, interview and stalk the every movement of certain people? We are constantly updated on the minor insecurities they have on their image, their clothes- it's a scandal if they wear the same outfit twice. Don't get me wrong, the human race is coming along great but why have we developed this obsession about these people so much? There are some that I care about, people that have got to the top of their field and deserve some time in my brain. I do want to know when, for example Stephen Fry is doing his next play or documentary as I respect him as a comedian and thought- provoker but do I want to know exactly when he gets his haircut of what colour his underwear is? Hell no! Are we so bored and unoccupied within our own lives that we feel we need to criticise other peoples just to get through the day?

I understand wanting to know where Emma Watson got that dress from or those shoes, if you have an event coming up it is nice to get inspiration and if you are very into fashion then looking at what everyone else is wearing is going to show you the trends. I understand that, I really do. But is this article really deemed worthy of newspaper attention? They're highlighting the normality of these people, as if its so shocking that occasionally Mila Kunis or Ellie Goulding might wear the same pair of jeans twice (we've all done it!) or might fancy a coffee, but to my knowledge celebrities aren't a different species to us 'normal' people so when I recently walked out of my house to go to Costa why isn't it me on the front page?

The other thing that gets me is the idea of privacy. Or lack of. If I was on a date with my boyfriend and a bunch of loud- mouthed, camera flashing journalists, walk on past I could not do. There wouldn't be violence, but I would probably just run away and never leave the house again. I honestly can't think of anything worse. Surely people can understand the notion of a quiet night out? No cameras, no reporters in a trench coat and sunglasses sitting at the table next to you dissecting every word you say. I know its a life choice to be a celebrity and you know what your getting yourself into but with the advances of social media they can tell us, the general public, what they want us to know. We need to respect the power they can have and create a positive bond between celebrities and everyone else. Fame can drive people to the brink, with many doing explicit or attention seeking acts because they cant handle the pressure that the media puts on them to be perfect. If we just left them to sing or act or write books in peace, with their publicity in their hands rather than ours, I feel the world would be a much more positive place .

The word 'celebrity' stems from the Latin word 'celebritatem' meaning 'condition of being famous.' However the celebrity status seems to be fairly ironic as many celebrities strive for years to be famous and then wear sunglasses day and night to avoid recognition and constantly complain about being famous. Pot... kettle... black...

It's a twisted, unbelievable, complex part of our society and one that I won't be able to change here and now, but I ask you who really cares?


Jx