To paraphrase "Smokey And The Bandit:"
How big a celebrity you are depends on what part of the world you're in.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the country you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
The difference between being a celebrity and a mere famous person is rooted in the base words. Famous people are merely well known, while celebrities tend to be celebrated by people.But is celebrity just fame or is it fame for being famous? Maybe the best definition of celebrity is somebody who people recognize as famous but know nothing else about them? So, Ali was world famous, but most people also knew he was a boxer. Likewise any political figure -- Obama is famous but his fame is tried to the office of the presidency.
The biggest "celebrity" by sheer numbers in the world right now is likely someone nobody on this board has heard of. it's some K-pop teen band or some Bollywood actress.
The difference between being a celebrity and a mere famous person is rooted in the base words. Famous people are merely well known, while celebrities tend to be celebrated by people.
Prince was a celebrity, people would get excited to experience something associated with the man. Meanwhile, someone like Kim Kardashian is just famous. Should the day come that Kim dies, and even if it's unexpected, most people will simply shrug, make some silly quip that's not nearly as original as we'd like to think, and then go about their days. When Prince died, large quantities of people stopped their lives to take time to mark his passing by gathering outside his Paisley Park compound and First Avenue had thousands in the streets because they couldn't fit into the club; Minneapolis itself lit up its tallest buildings (save one because it has never changed the color of its lights) and a couple bridges in purple out of remembrance for the man.
I doubt it, because we have all the media that is watched around the globe. Nobody in the US or Europe (or India, probably) reads about Chinese celebs, but American celebs are huge everywhere. I don't know much about the musicians, but you ever see those photos when Michael Jordan or Leonardo DiCaprio shows up at an event in China? You could die in that mob. US celebs might be bigger there than they are here.
So: adulation. That's an interesting way to look at it. Dillinger was a celebrity because people dipped their handkerchiefs in his blood; Charlie Manson isn't because other than his Family nobody gets off on him. I think you're on to something.
"Celebrity" seems to be a charismatic emotion that becomes something in and of itself. I'm sure Aristotle had a word for it; he had a word for everything. "Men want to be him, women want to be with him." Cult of personality.
Maybe. Let me ask, then. Which of these people are celebrities?
Had to look up the original quote. It's fantastic; I had forgotten it.
Had to look up the original quote. It's fantastic; I had forgotten it.
Billy Paul, the Grammy-winning soul singer of the 1970s hit "Me and Mrs. Jones," has died, a statement on his official website said. He was 80.
Paul died at home Sunday after a "serious medical condition," the statement read.
Terry Redlin
Famous local painter. I've loved his work since I was very young. Like six or seven years old.
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Terry Redlin
Famous local painter. I've loved his work since I was very young. Like six or seven years old.
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