celebrity death (Celebrity deaths: Why do they affect us?)

Member Name: dogleggedhat

Product:	Celebrity deaths: Why do they affect us?
Date:	14/03/09 (67 review reads)
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I've always been confused by the way in which celebrity deaths affect me. I have been very fortunate in that I have not lost anyone who I was close to, but when I get upset at someone dying who I didn't even know, it makes me abit nervous about how I would actually feel about someone I genuinely loved dying.

We put celebrities on a pedestal, whether we intend to or not, that is what happens. And it is almost as if you don't expect bad things to happen to celebrities as they are in some kind of safe bubble or something, immune from the everyday troubles that us mere mortals have to contend with. Of course this isn't true, but it's very easy to forget that bad things happen to even the most successful and beautiful celebrity.

So, I feel that when a celebrity dies, it can sort of hit you with a jolt-the idea that if it can happen to celebrities, it can happen to us.

Another big reason that celebrity deaths affect us is that, despite us not knowing them, we are exposed to them day in day out, we know about their highs and their lows, we get to form opinions on them(whether or not they're based on the truth), and we can become genuinely fond of certain celebrities, almost as if we did know them. When they die, it can sometimes feel like someone we know has died, and it can be genuinely upsetting. It can also be very sad when you see how much they contributed to society, whether it be through their influential music, fabulous acting, immense intelligence, or charity work etc. the fact that they no longer are able to offer this can be sad, particularly if, for example, their music got you through a particularly sad time, or reminded you of something amazing, or their charity work inspired you to contribute more yourself etc-it can be very sad to realise that they are no longer around.

The circumstances in which celebrities die can also be very sad. For example, Wendy Richards had beaten cancer a few times before and was a fighter, but unfortunately couldn't beat it the final time. When celebrities die suddenly and unexpectedly it can come as a shock and we automatically sympathise with their family as we can understand the pain they must be going through (eg when Heath Ledger died). Celebrities dying young, or dying in very sad ways (eg Jeff Buckley drowning) can make us feel sad because it just seems so cruel.

Similarly, when celebrities die through other ways, eg suicide, drug overdose etc it can lead to other emotions-anger, disappointment etc, because it seems like such a waste, and so unfair on their families and friends etc. For me personally, I find it sad when people die, but when I hear it was suicide or something stupid like drugs, then I tend to just be very angry by the selfishness of the act. In fact, the only time I haven't been annoyed at people dying this way was when Mark Speight commited suicide not long after his fiancee died in sinister circumstances-all I felt was sympathy and sadness at how horribly their lives ended up.

We can't help be effected by celebrity death because we are exposed to it so much. Its covered in all sorts of media and we are told so much information about the events-more so than we would probably be told about people we actually know dying, so it would probably be quite odd if we weren't affected in some way.

Summary: the exposure they receive and circumstances involved in the death can affect us