PDF(14216 KB)
Celebrity, celebrity culture and celebrity news: History, functions and controversies
Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2019, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (10) : 23-49.
PDF(14216 KB)
PDF(14216 KB)
Celebrity, celebrity culture and celebrity news: History, functions and controversies
Celebrity has a long history. As a long-standing human phenomenon, the birth, interpretations and transformations of celebrities are all part of the changing process of social structures. As the social values transformed from collectivism to individualism, the celebrity concepts changed from collective celebrations to well-known individuals; as the source of legitimacy shifted from political authority to democratic discourse, the core of celebrity discourse was no longer taken by Kings and heroes but was outsourced to commercial celebrities, especially stars; when the role of media transformed from celebrity mediators to celebrity authors, new types of celebrities were created. The school of critical studies regards celebrities as commodities that consolidate capital control, while the school of cultural studies regards celebrities as platforms for community cohesion. For celebrity news disseminated by the mass media, critics regard it as the occupant of public resources and the erosion of democratic foundation; while the defenders believe that celebrity news is a means for the powerless to be empowered, and the marginalized to confrm the status of being marginal.
Celebrities / Celebrity news / Stars / Legitimacy / Public sphere
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