Fame is the Name of the Game

Today, more people have access to fame. Celebrities are continuously promoted on  television networks, radio stations, record labels, and other media outlets.  For many people, the name of the game is fame. Another type of currency is media exposure.  The book, The 16th Minute of Fame: An Insider’s Guide for Maintaining Success Beyond 15 Minutes of Fame, by Darrell Miller & Angela Bassett, discusses the reality of societal acclaim. Darrell Miller specifically stated how, “Right now, there are endless examples of people who have had, or are currently experiencing, their fifteen minutes of fame. And while we all might first think of Hollywood celebrities as the “famous” ones, there’s so much more to the term than that.” Fame occurs on multiple levels of society today, and the term does not simply apply to traditional entertainers and the entertainment world like it once did.

Through the comedian’s point of view, we see what entertainment and fame have become.  Now,  “non-talent” can be associated with “fame” in a time when people are, as Malcolm Muggeridge  stated in his book, Muggeridge Through The Microphone, ‘famous for being famous.’ In the early days of television, getting an opportunity to perform on TV was coveted. The opportunities were few, while the amount of people who competed for those limited appearances were overwhelming. The competition unimaginably high, so it was implied that if someone appeared on television, they had true talent. Even after the rise of cable TV, it wasn’t easy to earn an appearance there either. After social media and digital platforms emerged, attaining media exposure became easier.

Some important points about fame are explained in the book, The Fame Formula: How Hollywood’s Fixers, Fakers and Star Makers Created the Celebrity Industry, by Mark Borkowski. Mark explains the new reality surrounding fame by stating how, “The media culture and environment has allowed fame to become an end in itself, and the stimulus behind achieving fame is now hopelessly suspect and shadowy. It’s available to everybody, which has created a limbo where we’re all waiting for the opportunity to arise.”  The celebrity in the United States was royalty for Americans, just like what the royal family is to the citizens of the United Kingdom.  Today, everyone is able to be seen on digital platforms. That way, they can express themselves through a form of self-projected fame. Fame is viewed as being democratic and everyone receives a chance.