Post by Michael Hansen on Aug 4, 2014 1:40:07 GMT
Celebrity and fame, I was not sure what we were going to discuss in this class or how this class would help my education. Now that I am able to look back and reflect on what we discussed, I am pleased with how this class went. The topics for discussion really were something I felt I could easily discuss and talk to the other classmates.
One of the first takeaways I got from this class was the idea of identification. I cannot see how a person can get so wrapped up in a celebrity’s life. Identification is the idea that a normal person follows a celebrity so much and likes them so much, that they try and become that celebrity. They wear the same clothes, act the same way, and may even try to look exactly like them. They become so consumed with that celebrity it ruins other relationships with friends and family. In a way, identification is severe obsession. I can understand being a fan of a celebrity and like watching them but trying to be them is ridiculous. People these days get to caught up in the reality television and the celebrities that are involved. That or they are caught up in the sports that the celebrity plays. Identification in this way was very interesting to me and will be one thing I will not forget about this class. I would feel this deteriorates our current culture because it does nothing good for an individual. They are not working to improve their lives through work, family or faith. They are just obsessed with the celebrity.
Another takeaway I took from the class was the week of discussions about Facebook and kids self esteem. I did not realize that Facebook and other social media became a problem for some high school students. I understand bullying goes on every day in high school for some of the students but never would of thought it would go to social media as well. I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family I do not regularly see. But for students to be on Facebook with friends and then cyber bully is crazy. I would think students have more important things to do like their homework then be on the Internet all night. I also thought parents need to be in more control of their kids to keep this from happening. The world is very interesting that we live in but when we discussed this I did not realize it even happened. Yet again, I would say this deteriorates our current culture because children should not be bullied. I can understand if they are not friends and do not want to be. But a student should not be bullied for any reason. That does nothing for our society but show other kids its okay to be mean. I can understand not being a friend or liking the other person but showing respect is what everyone can do to one another.
Probably the most interesting topic we discussed for me though was a celebrity as a commodity. I completely agreed with a celebrity being a commodity because of the exposure celebrities get. Being a commodity means they are worth money like a product or good. I can see that being true about movie celebrities. They are constantly being sold to do a movie for a director or the writer of the movie. They are bought, traded or sold on the idea of the movie or show. Even sports celebrities are a commodity because they are constantly traded or signing a different contract with another team. Some stay with the same team all the time but others look to get closer to their hometown or more money. These trade deadlines happen in an every professional sport we have except a few like golf. In golf, the golfers are not traded but the companies they get their clubs from are constantly trying to help them and others are trying to get the celebrity to join them. It is a constant battle of people trying to persuade the others to join their organization. I would say this commodity trading is a influencing our youth in a big way. It is teaching them that it is okay to buy a guy. It is okay to throw money at a problem one has and if you throw enough money, your problem can be solved. That is a big problem our youth will see and take as a lesson that it is acceptable.
After reflecting about the class in this new thread, I am still pleased with the results of this class. I still like how the class went and what we discussed. I was always interested in the topics and was able to express my opinions. I actually wish we would be able to sit around the classrooms and have the discussions like this. Let everyone express their opinion as much as they want and talk about it. I enjoyed that aspect of our class and would recommend it to any future students looking for a good learning experience.
One of the first takeaways I got from this class was the idea of identification. I cannot see how a person can get so wrapped up in a celebrity’s life. Identification is the idea that a normal person follows a celebrity so much and likes them so much, that they try and become that celebrity. They wear the same clothes, act the same way, and may even try to look exactly like them. They become so consumed with that celebrity it ruins other relationships with friends and family. In a way, identification is severe obsession. I can understand being a fan of a celebrity and like watching them but trying to be them is ridiculous. People these days get to caught up in the reality television and the celebrities that are involved. That or they are caught up in the sports that the celebrity plays. Identification in this way was very interesting to me and will be one thing I will not forget about this class. I would feel this deteriorates our current culture because it does nothing good for an individual. They are not working to improve their lives through work, family or faith. They are just obsessed with the celebrity.
Another takeaway I took from the class was the week of discussions about Facebook and kids self esteem. I did not realize that Facebook and other social media became a problem for some high school students. I understand bullying goes on every day in high school for some of the students but never would of thought it would go to social media as well. I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family I do not regularly see. But for students to be on Facebook with friends and then cyber bully is crazy. I would think students have more important things to do like their homework then be on the Internet all night. I also thought parents need to be in more control of their kids to keep this from happening. The world is very interesting that we live in but when we discussed this I did not realize it even happened. Yet again, I would say this deteriorates our current culture because children should not be bullied. I can understand if they are not friends and do not want to be. But a student should not be bullied for any reason. That does nothing for our society but show other kids its okay to be mean. I can understand not being a friend or liking the other person but showing respect is what everyone can do to one another.
Probably the most interesting topic we discussed for me though was a celebrity as a commodity. I completely agreed with a celebrity being a commodity because of the exposure celebrities get. Being a commodity means they are worth money like a product or good. I can see that being true about movie celebrities. They are constantly being sold to do a movie for a director or the writer of the movie. They are bought, traded or sold on the idea of the movie or show. Even sports celebrities are a commodity because they are constantly traded or signing a different contract with another team. Some stay with the same team all the time but others look to get closer to their hometown or more money. These trade deadlines happen in an every professional sport we have except a few like golf. In golf, the golfers are not traded but the companies they get their clubs from are constantly trying to help them and others are trying to get the celebrity to join them. It is a constant battle of people trying to persuade the others to join their organization. I would say this commodity trading is a influencing our youth in a big way. It is teaching them that it is okay to buy a guy. It is okay to throw money at a problem one has and if you throw enough money, your problem can be solved. That is a big problem our youth will see and take as a lesson that it is acceptable.
After reflecting about the class in this new thread, I am still pleased with the results of this class. I still like how the class went and what we discussed. I was always interested in the topics and was able to express my opinions. I actually wish we would be able to sit around the classrooms and have the discussions like this. Let everyone express their opinion as much as they want and talk about it. I enjoyed that aspect of our class and would recommend it to any future students looking for a good learning experience.
