Gareth Johnston
"Fame is empowering. My mistake was that I thought I would instinctively know how to handle it. But there's no manual, no training course.
Charlie Sheen"
The 23rd of July 2011 saw Amy Winehouse pronounced dead inside her Camden home in London, and it represented, once again, a tragic example of the cruelty that fame can bring upon those who attain it. Amy was a talented woman, of that there can be no doubt. It is arguable that she served somewhat as a pioneer for the current popularity of soul music that has seen the likes of Duffy, or more prominently Adele, achieve substantial success with such tracks as "Valerie" and "Rehab" heavily engrained into modern-day popular culture. Yet, as well-known as she was, she was a deeply troubled person.
Despite her commercial success, it was to be her well publicised drug and alcohol addictions that she was heavily associated with which, over time, only grew as her creative output slowly diminished.
One of the most powerful feelings that is evoked in such instances of premature death, alongside those of tragedy and loss, is one of profound waste. Now many will, perhaps cynically so, argue that Amy's best days were long behind her. However it only takes one look at a photo of her in 2003 fresh-faced, full in figure, and more importantly smiling, to see that she had the coveted attributes of talent, wealth and popularity all in abundance.
Amy 2003 (Copyright exposure photos)
Yet in 2008, there is a figure that in comparison is dishevelled, ill and miserable, and utterly unrecognisable to the woman of 5 years before. Now, of course, most would point out that this is simply the result of heavy substance abuse, and nothing more, and yet it poses the question as to why somebody, with so much to live for, would embark upon such a path of reckless behaviour that ultimately would cause such a catastrophic fall from grace.
Amy-2008 (Copyright The Daily Mail)
Another prominent example of such tragic loss, was the shocking death of Heath Ledger (aged 28) in January of 2008, who had, until that point, begun to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most talented, and thus sought after actors. Ledger again had, it would seem, everything a man could ever want. Millions of dollars, widespread respect amongst his fans and fellow actors, youth, and a baby girl whom he absolutely adored, and yet it was all lost. His outstanding performances in Brokeback Mountain and as the Joker in the Dark Knight (that was released 6 months following his death to critical acclaim and a posthumous Oscar) was as stronger indication as any that we had only just started to see what he capable of.
Numerous other examples come to mind such as Kurt Cobain (aged 27), Brittany Murphy (32) and River Phoenix (23), and even those in the highest echelons of Fame in Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Yet the one thing that seems to be applicable to each case, is that each individual at some point or another showed visible signs of stress, a demise in their ability to function normally and to handle their demanding lifestyles. Fame it would seem is very much the poisoned chalice.
Privacy is a word that, to the these individuals, probably carried no meaning whatsoever. Every pound lost in weight, person dated, car bought, book read, holiday taken was ruthlessly documented upon and scrutinised, to the point whereby it was not possible for the likes of Michael Jackson to leave his home without at least 100 photographers trying to discern whether or not he had undergone plastic surgery that day or not.
Too often fame is glorified as the epitome of desirables, the "rags to riches" ideal that is so engrained in our capitalist society to the point that people with literally no talent whatsoever are able to become "famous". The list of such individuals is endless, with the likes of Katie Price, Kerry Katona, and "Jedward" (for whom I have particular distaste), all have managed to attain a public profile for exhibiting minimal talent or in the case of the latter example, substantial lack thereof. And yet are we really to place the blame solely at their feet? The likes of Simon Cowell and the recently deceased (and unlikely to be missed) News of the world have a great deal to answer for here. The X factor's basic message is that anybody can be famous, and that there is nothing but happiness to be had if you are able to succeed in the competition, and yet you need only ask Joe McElderry the 2010 victor, what has become of his recording contract.
What Cheryl Cole and the gleaming teeth of Cowell, tend not to mention is the ruthless nature of fame. Now I am not saying that all famous persons resort to a devolved lifestyle of drug abuse and ill-health, it would of course be untrue. There are many who handle it quite amicably, yet it begs the somewhat clichéd question as to whether they are truly happy. Having to provide a well polished image at all times through fear of public aversion, is something that almost certainly takes its toll on all those who have experienced fame and desire to keep it.
In essence this has bred a culture of people who want all the benefits of fame,and yet are not prepared to do that hard work or hone any particular talent that would bring such things as a result. Big brother has found 10 seasons worth or televisions out of this very mindset, and it is a depressing state of affairs. Those who taste fame via such methods are more often than not resigned to a life of retaining what little popularity they can, clinging on to any slither of exposure that they can get, and it only ever leads to misery.
Ricky Gervais perhaps sums the whole thesis of this article up better than I ever could and it is, if you think about it, something we are all somewhat guilty of contributing toward.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQAr_AjZt-E?rel=0&w=480&h=390]
"Fame is empowering. My mistake was that I thought I would instinctively know how to handle it. But there's no manual, no training course.
Charlie Sheen"
The 23rd of July 2011 saw Amy Winehouse pronounced dead inside her Camden home in London, and it represented, once again, a tragic example of the cruelty that fame can bring upon those who attain it. Amy was a talented woman, of that there can be no doubt. It is arguable that she served somewhat as a pioneer for the current popularity of soul music that has seen the likes of Duffy, or more prominently Adele, achieve substantial success with such tracks as "Valerie" and "Rehab" heavily engrained into modern-day popular culture. Yet, as well-known as she was, she was a deeply troubled person.
Despite her commercial success, it was to be her well publicised drug and alcohol addictions that she was heavily associated with which, over time, only grew as her creative output slowly diminished.
One of the most powerful feelings that is evoked in such instances of premature death, alongside those of tragedy and loss, is one of profound waste. Now many will, perhaps cynically so, argue that Amy's best days were long behind her. However it only takes one look at a photo of her in 2003 fresh-faced, full in figure, and more importantly smiling, to see that she had the coveted attributes of talent, wealth and popularity all in abundance.
Amy 2003 (Copyright exposure photos)Yet in 2008, there is a figure that in comparison is dishevelled, ill and miserable, and utterly unrecognisable to the woman of 5 years before. Now, of course, most would point out that this is simply the result of heavy substance abuse, and nothing more, and yet it poses the question as to why somebody, with so much to live for, would embark upon such a path of reckless behaviour that ultimately would cause such a catastrophic fall from grace.
Amy-2008 (Copyright The Daily Mail)Another prominent example of such tragic loss, was the shocking death of Heath Ledger (aged 28) in January of 2008, who had, until that point, begun to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most talented, and thus sought after actors. Ledger again had, it would seem, everything a man could ever want. Millions of dollars, widespread respect amongst his fans and fellow actors, youth, and a baby girl whom he absolutely adored, and yet it was all lost. His outstanding performances in Brokeback Mountain and as the Joker in the Dark Knight (that was released 6 months following his death to critical acclaim and a posthumous Oscar) was as stronger indication as any that we had only just started to see what he capable of.
Numerous other examples come to mind such as Kurt Cobain (aged 27), Brittany Murphy (32) and River Phoenix (23), and even those in the highest echelons of Fame in Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Yet the one thing that seems to be applicable to each case, is that each individual at some point or another showed visible signs of stress, a demise in their ability to function normally and to handle their demanding lifestyles. Fame it would seem is very much the poisoned chalice.
Privacy is a word that, to the these individuals, probably carried no meaning whatsoever. Every pound lost in weight, person dated, car bought, book read, holiday taken was ruthlessly documented upon and scrutinised, to the point whereby it was not possible for the likes of Michael Jackson to leave his home without at least 100 photographers trying to discern whether or not he had undergone plastic surgery that day or not.
Too often fame is glorified as the epitome of desirables, the "rags to riches" ideal that is so engrained in our capitalist society to the point that people with literally no talent whatsoever are able to become "famous". The list of such individuals is endless, with the likes of Katie Price, Kerry Katona, and "Jedward" (for whom I have particular distaste), all have managed to attain a public profile for exhibiting minimal talent or in the case of the latter example, substantial lack thereof. And yet are we really to place the blame solely at their feet? The likes of Simon Cowell and the recently deceased (and unlikely to be missed) News of the world have a great deal to answer for here. The X factor's basic message is that anybody can be famous, and that there is nothing but happiness to be had if you are able to succeed in the competition, and yet you need only ask Joe McElderry the 2010 victor, what has become of his recording contract.
What Cheryl Cole and the gleaming teeth of Cowell, tend not to mention is the ruthless nature of fame. Now I am not saying that all famous persons resort to a devolved lifestyle of drug abuse and ill-health, it would of course be untrue. There are many who handle it quite amicably, yet it begs the somewhat clichéd question as to whether they are truly happy. Having to provide a well polished image at all times through fear of public aversion, is something that almost certainly takes its toll on all those who have experienced fame and desire to keep it.
In essence this has bred a culture of people who want all the benefits of fame,and yet are not prepared to do that hard work or hone any particular talent that would bring such things as a result. Big brother has found 10 seasons worth or televisions out of this very mindset, and it is a depressing state of affairs. Those who taste fame via such methods are more often than not resigned to a life of retaining what little popularity they can, clinging on to any slither of exposure that they can get, and it only ever leads to misery.
Ricky Gervais perhaps sums the whole thesis of this article up better than I ever could and it is, if you think about it, something we are all somewhat guilty of contributing toward.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQAr_AjZt-E?rel=0&w=480&h=390]
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