Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, claimed in his work Lost Icons that all societies have symbols of their identity. That is often manifested in the trends, fads and people. As a community, we want to present an image of who we want to be to ourselves, and as such, we hold things and lifestyles we desire in high regard. We project our inclinations onto the world around us, shaping the very culture we live in through our tastes. This should not be surprising: the marketing industry is premised on the notion that people will respond and act upon adverts which invigorate and suggest a possible way of sating our appetites. The world revolves around the social affirmations of items which our sentiments take an affection too.
As such, communities like to display their archetypal lifestyles in people who exhibit it. Those who are rich, powerful, controversial, funny, outspoken, take life by the scruff of the neck and many more attributes become celebrities as they have something we admire and want to preserve by lifting it upon high. Take Justin Bieber. Love him or hate him, he has been highly successful, having made millions of dollars, released a few number one albums and having his own worshipers: the Beliebers. All this at the tender age of 19. Let's be honest for a moment: nearly everyone would trade places with this lad if they had the opportunity. He, and others in his mould, are paradigmatic of our own desires.
Is this ethically healthy? I think not. We seem to prize people who are egotistical, self-indulged, money hoarders, uncaring and many other vices in their possession. Note, not all celebs are like this. However, many are. And it reeks of hypocrisy. Everyone seems to hate the bankers, getting bonuses for failure not paying enough tax for our liking. What of the likes of Jessie J, One Direction and Wayne Rooney? Yes they all give to charity, they sign the autographs etc. but do they do their part? I found myself getting angry whilst watching comic relief, because whilst honest, hardworking folk with little money donate an incredible amount to this fantastic cause, the celebrities who tell us to donate don't nearly put in as much as the less well off do, making a killing off their wage. Yet, we still idolise them.
Again, take a look at Jonathan Ross. He is a rude, over the top presenter, who has made horrific phone calls to the great lad Andrew Sacks. Yet he is still seen as a good enough candidate to have his own TV show, host parts of charity events and merit our attention. It doesn't seem clear why he is a celebrity at all, never mind someone we look up to.
Finally, and perhaps my favourite case, Eminem. His lyrics promote violence, sexism and misogyny sexual abuse, rape, drugs, alcohol abuse, swearing, hatred and the rich lifestyle at the expense of others. This is an essential part of the rap culture. But like so many other teenage boys, I have found myself idolising his music, learning his rhymes and developing a way of viewing the world shaped by his words. This cannot be right.
Indeed, I don't think there is anything wrong with having celebrities. We need to reflect who we are as a culture, portray what we admire, and produce examples for our young people to look up too. What worries me is our current selection of famous icons. They embody a way of life which will lead to an individualism and wanton disregard for others that nobody wants. We need to take a look at ourselves to see who we subscribe to and hold up as an emblem.
A suggestion of such a person would be the charity workers in this country and around the world. Many people volunteer to help those marginalised and excluded, giving everything they can to aid those in need. Loving their neighbours, they make a gift of themselves to be used by others how they please, expecting no thanks, no rewards, just looking for a better world. In the past, folk like the philanthropist George Cadbury, Joseph Chamberlain and Florence Nightingale are all British heroes worthy of our admiration. But these are all in the past: there seems to be nobody in the current climate who gives of their own volition, who is known for their acts of kindness first and foremost. This to me, seems wrong.
In conclusion, I have argued that whilst having celebrities is not a bad thing, the people we have accepted as icons of our culture raise questions as to the moral nature of our community. Perhaps this is just a consequence of my worldview: following the Lord, I believe that love is the principle emotion which defines good from bad, and should order our actions due to a divine mandate. However, it is a pretty bleak world where love is secondary to other prerogatives. For without the connection with the other of an agent, what are we? I urge you to reflect upon what you value ethically, and see whether the celebs you approve of correspond to the virtues you endorse. It may change your whole outlook on life.
