Born in the USA
I originally wondered who had the final say whether something was a high calling or important. The people who look at the job from the outside or the people doing the job? The whole celebrity phenomenom is something I've thought about for a while. The idea that someone or something is great or extraordinary seems to be almost completely subjective. I have befriended a few "famous"people over the past few years and have discovered the fame thing to be very amusing. They are the friends I know and they either have worked with or arefabulous musicians. They are nice guys and very enjoyable to be around. But to me they are just guys who have been in the right place at the right time and or happen to be very talented.
To see how people act around them is hilarious, because they just fumble or get red or talk to them as if they are superheroes. They themselves might not be so siked about what they do, or at least not as much as their fans are. So it begs the question, who decides what value something is? The people who look at the job or the people doing the job? I have played music very poorly and had people compliment me or say it was great. Who was right? Me or the listener. I know that if they were "impressed" then I was "effective", but is what they heard actually good?
So if the jobs I have done or do are percieved as good/important yet I don't feel they are, at what point do I decide or conceed?
I truly do understand where the writer of Ecc. was coming from. He was depressed/distressed/disillusioned. And so am I.
To see how people act around them is hilarious, because they just fumble or get red or talk to them as if they are superheroes. They themselves might not be so siked about what they do, or at least not as much as their fans are. So it begs the question, who decides what value something is? The people who look at the job or the people doing the job? I have played music very poorly and had people compliment me or say it was great. Who was right? Me or the listener. I know that if they were "impressed" then I was "effective", but is what they heard actually good?
So if the jobs I have done or do are percieved as good/important yet I don't feel they are, at what point do I decide or conceed?
I truly do understand where the writer of Ecc. was coming from. He was depressed/distressed/disillusioned. And so am I.
posted by Jason at 8:19 PM
2 Comments:
i understand the notion of "which came first, the chicken or the egg?"
i have never been one to get caught up in the celebrity life, although i find it is ver easy to do so. last fall i went to the toronto international film festival with 2 girlfriends because they were dead set on seeing brad pitt. we waited for FIVE HOURS to see him. we ended up in front with a great spot, but the crowd was ENORMOUS, and you can't help but get caught up in the excitement of it all.
i don't think i'd be a gusher if i were ever to encounter a "celebrity" in a regular setting.
back to the notion of which came first...
i don't necessarily know who or what decides celebrity status. i will say that i appreciate those people who recognize their influential potential and use it for the greater good. people such as bono, oprah, angelina jolie, even bands like neverending white lights donate portions of their profit to fight juvenile diabetes. there have been many more, and i'm sure many more will come. these are the ones who are "just like us", but know that because they are NOT just like us will use their voices to be heard.
Yeah, the whole subjectivity of success is so facinating to me. Oh, if I had a chance to see some movie stars I would do it. Of course it would depend on how much of an effort I would have to exert, and who it was. The only people I think I would be honestly "star-struck" with would be U2. I've been a fan since I was 11, that a long time now. 16 years!
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