Rant on Celebrity

[bjarvis]

I just don't understand the mournful hand-wringing over the recent death of Heath Ledger. More fundamentally, I don't get the whole cult of celebrity thing.

Why is Ledger's death so newsworthy? Because he was wealthy, good-looking and well-known because of his career? Is that all? I'm at a loss to figure out what else it might be. Thousands of other people make their contributions to the world and pass away quietly and with dignity but because they aren't millionaires or graced the big screen, they die anonymously and uncelebrated.

People are dying here & abroad who have contributed more to the world than the likes of, say, Anna Nicole Smith but get not one inch of newsprint. People are dying of preventable diseases, of natural calamities, of accident & misadventure but are all overlooked because of the overdose of an actor.

I'm sorry for his family but I think there are better uses for our time and energy than public displays of angst over his passing. His death is sad and unfortunate but it is not front-page news.

Comments

[madknits.livejournal.com]

You know, I had much the same reaction. I saw a lot of posts last night about how people were personally hurting because of this death. Um, you don't know him. He doesn't know you. Yes, it's tragic. Yes, it's sad. Yes, movies and film have lost a talented actor. But let's have a little perspective here.

What I find more disturbing, however, is that Fred Phelps and his band of crazies are going to protest at his funeral, because, you know, God hates fags, and he portrayed one in a movie. I hope his funeral is in his native Australia, 'cause I don't think Freddie could afford to go there, and the Aussies would probably kick his ass.