| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The international encyclopedia of media literacy |
| Editors | Renee Hobbs , Paul Mihailidis |
| Place of Publication | Hoboken, NJ |
| Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
| Chapter | C |
| Pages | 89-97 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118978238 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781118978245 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2019 |
Abstract
This entry provides an introduction to celebrity culture as well as an overview of sociological and media and communications research on the formation and emergence of celebrities in modernity and under late capitalism. This research identifies the social, cultural, economic, and media factors that lead to the creation of and possibility for celebrity in contemporary society. This is what can be termed “celebrity culture,” a set of social and media structures that accommodate the elevation of certain individuals to celebrity status above others. Celebrity culture is both shaped by and influences the industrial practices of media entertainment and promotion businesses. The role of celebrities in reaffirming capitalism as well as social norms of identity, particularly in relation to gender, sexuality, and race, reveals how celebrities make our culture and society intelligible in certain ways.