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The Cult of Culture

In his interview, Timothy Caulfield brings up several points about celebrity culture and how the American dream has changed.  Decades ago, if you asked children what they wanted to be when they grew up, they would have said doctor, astronaut, teacher, etc.  Now they would say actor, athlete, singer, or just a celebrity.  Celebrities are viewed as having obtained "the American dream," but have they?  Social media allows people to project themselves as they want to be seen by the rest of the world.  Much like Joseph Epstein says in his article, Celebrity Culture is Pervasive, that celebrity is the broadcasting of one's achievements or invention of achievement.  When he went to try-outs for American Idol, Caulfield speaks of how thousands of people showed up, thinking that this was their ticket to a better life, the American Dream, whether they were talented or not.  He mentions Kim Kardashian, who has achieved celebrity status despite not having actually achieved anything or done anything to warrant the fame.

Caulfield remarks that, despite celebrities being seemingly living the American dream, it is nearly impossible to obtain.  Celebrity culture has lead us to believe that fame will ultimately lead to fortune and happiness. He mentions actress, Alison Arngrim, who said that any problems you may have had in life become exacerbated by fame and celebrity.  When he visited the modeling agencies and the American Idol try-outs, he described the desperation that people exuded, the exorbitant amounts of money that had been spent in the hopes of reaching that coveted celebrity status.

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