A_Country’S_Obsession_with_Celebrity_Always_Increases_When_Its_Citizens_Need_a_Distraction_from_the_Harsh_Realities_of_War_and_Economic_Strife.

A country’s obsession with celebrity always increases when its citizens need a distraction from the harsh realities of war and economic strife. I disagree with the claim that a country’s obsession with celebrity always increases when its citizens need a distraction from the harsh realities of war and economic strife. Citizens of warring and economically distressed countries often do not engage in the pleasure of getting excessively devoted to those they see as celebrities. Rather, everyone is saddled with safeguarding himself and family while government re-establishing economic stability and peace. Obsession with celebrity can only increase where the celebrities are not over-shadowed by emergent issues of war and famine. Consider two examples - Iraq and Somalia- countries that have been at war for decades with their economies getting worse by the day. Citizens have been dispelled from their homes, farmlands and manufacturing plants have been destroyed, and worse still, many of the economically active citizens have been killed in war. It is unimaginable that under these circumstances, citizens would have the economic and emotional capacity for increased celebrity obsession. Admittedly, the works of celebrities-art, music, sport- sometimes help a country recover from aftermaths of war and economic strife. As such, government tends to promote and export their works for revenue and reconciliation. However, war and economic hardship by themselves do not usually promote celebrity obsession. Increased obsession with celebrities typically occurs naturally and under comfortable conditions. It often results from fans being attracted to the glamorous lifestyles portrayed by the celebrity. For example, most followers of Usher Raymond, a Hollywood star, are fascinated by his dressing. Many fans tend to dress like him. Likewise, some get obsessed because of the art, sport or trade the celebrity does. The increasing followership that Ronaldinho- a Brazilian footballer- gets can mostly be attributed to his achievements in soccer and not himself. Also, people sometimes get obsessed with celebrities to meet up with some social standards or belong to a class/group. For example, some adult males wear Arsenal Football Club jersey to get admitted into some pubs in England. This has increased Arsenal’s followership significantly. Arguably, none of the circumstances discussed above that promote celebrity obsession would become more predominant in times of war and economic hardship. As such, these types of hardships do not promote celebrity obsession.