[RANT] Celebrities: Why Do We Care?

[Carol247]

Thanks Cath462, I love your signature! Very appropriate to this thread.

 

[fleurya]

I couldn't disagree more. 300 was nothing but a cool story told from the Spartan point of view. It isn't meant to offend the Persians of today or any of that nonsense. I can't believe how much press this is getting, but I'm sure the producers are happy. I'm sure they're really raking it in what with all the people going to see the movie purely to see what the commotion is all about. People need to take their heads out of their behinds and realize that not everything has some sort of a political agenda.

First, I should commend you for even knowing that present day Iran/Iraq is the same geographic area as ancient Persia, but you may have heard that from somewhere. But what you don't realize is that Persia changed hands many times before becoming what it is today, so making such a connection is completely erroneous for anyone and was not my point at all.

What I was referring to in my comparison was in the plot; the struggle of the leader against the rest of the governing body, the corruption, and the ideals of fighting for freedom even when it means taking the fight to your "enemies". (Of course, the plot of the story and the history of the event made the intent of the enemy obvious). So maybe you should consider that while you watch the movie again, listen, and take your head out of your rear-end. Also, I don't see political motives in everything, only when I'm smacked in the face with it, such as firing a group of attorneys for having minds of their own.

 

[Tak]

Anna Nicole Smith died six weeks ago ... yet her love life, drug use, family, and death are still leading news stories.

Britney Spears shaves her head and enters rehab, and it's on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News every 30 minutes.

Why should I care?

Welcome to why I don't watch TV.

 

[ToddG]

What I was referring to in my comparison was in the plot; the struggle of the leader against the rest of the governing body, the corruption, and the ideals of fighting for freedom even when it means taking the fight to your "enemies". (Of course, the plot of the story and the history of the event made the intent of the enemy obvious). So maybe you should consider that while you watch the movie again, listen, and take your head out of your rear-end. Also, I don't see political motives in everything, only when I'm smacked in the face with it, such as firing a group of attorneys for having minds of their own.

It's based on a graphic novel that was written three years before 9/11. The plot isn't supposed to be a political commentary on anything going on in the world today, since it was written almost a decade ago.

Furthermore, it is historically accurate in that:

* the "leader" (Leonidas) marched with his 300 men against opposition from much of the Spartan government because their religion required them to celebrate the Carneian Festival at that time.

* the Spartans along with many other Greek allies did in fact set out to stop the advance of the Persian army at Thermopylae. They did in fact "take the fight to their enemy" because it was the only chance they had of stopping a force with great numerical superiority. There was nothing political about it, it was just the smart thing to do.

I could just as easily say "oh that whole thing with the king's wife was just to show how powerful a leader's wife could be, because they want Hillary Clinton to get elected President!"

Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.

 

[WasabiTaylor]

First, I should commend you for even knowing that present day Iran/Iraq is the same geographic area as ancient Persia, but you may have heard that from somewhere. But what you don't realize is that Persia changed hands many times before becoming what it is today, so making such a connection is completely erroneous for anyone and was not my point at all.

What I was referring to in my comparison was in the plot; the struggle of the leader against the rest of the governing body, the corruption, and the ideals of fighting for freedom even when it means taking the fight to your "enemies". (Of course, the plot of the story and the history of the event made the intent of the enemy obvious). So maybe you should consider that while you watch the movie again, listen, and take your head out of your rear-end. Also, I don't see political motives in everything, only when I'm smacked in the face with it, such as firing a group of attorneys for having minds of their own.

I'd like to know what political events or politicians that you connected this to, or if you just connected it to politics in general. Many writers and artists get their inspiration from a bevy of things. Whether or not Miller drew the story from any modern political events, I doubt the movie was an attempt at making some sort of statement.

 

[iKitten]

The main problem with all of this is simple really...

Unfortunately the old days of when "News" was real news are over, the lines between entertainment and News are entirely too blurred now.

I couldn't care less. It is shoved down our throat with the preempting of real news, the magazines, so many entertainment shows...you can't help but at least notice.

You've both said PRECISELY what I have been thinking!!

 

[eric]

Why should I care?

virtual rep my friend (since it's not letting me give you real).
i'm with you.

 

[fleurya]

Furthermore, it is historically accurate in that:

* the "leader" (Leonidas) marched with his 300 men against opposition from much of the Spartan government because their religion required them to celebrate the Carneian Festival at that time.

* the Spartans along with many other Greek allies did in fact set out to stop the advance of the Persian army at Thermopylae. They did in fact "take the fight to their enemy" because it was the only chance they had of stopping a force with great numerical superiority. There was nothing political about it, it was just the smart thing to do.

I never claimed there was anything fabricated about the gist of the story. Yes, the Spartans were being threatened by the Persians, and yes, a small party of men went out to hold them off. That's about as much as you can get/trust from history. Everything else is literary license, either by the makers of the movie, the novel writer, or those who passed the sotry down through history. What I'm saying is that certain ideas and familiar language of the movie are very closely tied to current political events. I'm really surprised more people (here) don't understand that. A lot of people I've talked about this movie with felt the same way when they watched it.

Anyway, back to the lame media. One thing I discovered to be interesting about the media is from "The Daily Show" where Jon Stewart will play clips form various media sources on an issue any their all saying the same thing. And I don't just mean the same subject, I mean they're saying the EXACT SAME WORDS/PHRASES. That makes me a little suspicious. Either one source comes up with it and the others just copy, or they're all reading from the same "script"! It makes me feel like the only news I can trust is from the faux news providers like "The Daily Show". But even I'm not so thick as to not understand it's as biased as the rest.

 

[slashjunior]

I don't buy the fact that these celebrities privacy is being invaded. You have huge stars such as Will Smith which you never hear anything about, maybe it is because he has been a star along time and knows how to avoid the press or pays large amounts of money to the press to avoid him.

Most of these celebrities usually have PR advisors who usually tip off the press about where they are likely to be and they love being in the limelight. Something bad happens like they are caught drinking excessively or taking drugs and they change their tune and blame the press for invasion of privacy.

In some ways I feel sorry for Britney Spears though because it very much feels like her mother pushed her into this.

People complain about celebrities, but it is the public that is fuelling demand. Those celebrity magazines still fly off the shelves and the tabloids still sell well. A combination of magazines, consumers and celebrities are all contributing to ruining their lives, marrying after a couple of weeks, divorcing after their first argument...this is the kind of thing that has led Britney Spears to where she is today and she needs to be taken out of the spotlight and given proper help.

 

[eric]

You have huge stars such as Will Smith which you never hear anything about, maybe it is because he has been a star along time and knows how to avoid the press or pays large amounts of money to the press to avoid him.

more likely... they still stalk him with cameras and such, but if he does nothing "news worthy" his pics only end up in star or people magazine occasionally, not plastered everywhere. so it seems less, but i'd guess any celebrity with a higher "x" factor than say gilbert gottfried is still stalked on at least a daily or weekly basis.

 

[iKitten]

I actually feel a trifle sorry for Britney. She doesn't seem like she can grow up.

 

[eric]

but it doesn't have to be her does it? wouldn't you feel sorry for any young woman who goes through some of the same problems (especially those who dont have the money, time, or resources to seek counseling).

 

[iKitten]

Yes, I feel sympathy for those who are mixed up for any reason in life (and have donated time to help them). But I do feel a little sorrier for Brit because she HAS the money, time and resources and she cannot seem to find people who are wise enough to help her straighten out. It's like she's perpetually 11 yrs old! Maybe she doesn't really want to grow up, who knows. Perhaps the cancellation of the Mickey Mouse Club was so traumatic she never recovered!

 

[CrossBones]

Anna Nicole Smith died six weeks ago ... yet her love life, drug use, family, and death are still leading news stories.

Britney Spears shaves her head and enters rehab, and it's on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News every 30 minutes.

Why should I care?

People go into rehab every day. People die every day. So the fact that some famous busty blonde dies or needs rehab is not news ... it's to be expected. But celebrity seems to feed upon itself nowadays. So when even the most mundane and/or personal events happen to these celebrities we have to hear about. Over and over and over again.

I don't care what Tom Cruise's little daughter wore on St. Patrick's Day. How in God's name does that reach the same newsworthiness as the ongoing war in Iraq, Iran's nuclear ambitions, or the global warming debate?

When this kind of stuff was limited to dedicated shows like Entertainment Tonight it wasn't so bad ... people whose lives are so small that they need to live vicariously through famous movie stars and singers are welcome to it. But we're not talking about some Hollywood faux news program. This is network news.

Let me say it for the record: I do not care who fathered Anna Nicole's baby. I know it wasn't me.

I've never gone drinking with Britney Spears.

And to be honest, I don't even care if Tom Cruise believes we're all possessed by billion-year-old alien spirits.

It's not a matter of privacy. These people live and die (pardon the pun) off their celebrity and their ability to get on television. They throw themselves into the spotlight and get what they deserve. I have no sympathy for them. I just don't care about their personal lives!

Oh, Angelina Jolie is adopting her thirty-eighth kid? I don't care!

I'm not sure what else there is to add... REP!!!!!