http://www.tkp.edu.hk/newsletter/archives/1723
In 1968 artist Andy Warhol famously coined the phrase, “15 minutes of fame,” to describe celebrity. He said, “in the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.”
It seems the future is now.
Form three students are studying the unit, “Popular Culture” this year. The easiest way to describe this is what is popular right now in Western culture – and in particular, what is popular with teenagers right now. The “right now” part is important. Worksheets I make now for popular culture won’t work next year – at the rate things change, they may not work next week! In some cases, this is to be fervently wished for.
Being dead, I don’t imagine Michael Jackson’s resurgent popularity will last too much longer. It is amazing to me that he is so popular right now – Thriller and Billie Jean are huge favourites with teens now, yet they were released when I was at school – that’s going back a long way.
At the same time, Lady Gaga is monumentally popular right now. I’m personally hard pressed to figure out why. Perhaps it’s because she’s so overtly sexual in her lyrics, outfits and dance moves. Her video clips are famously raunchy – and teenagers love it. Perhaps that solves the mystery for me.
On the plus side, at least Lady Gaga isn’t some wimpy little girl who needs rescuing by a man every five minutes. That dubious honour goes to Bella, the lead female character in the Twilight series of books and films which are so hot right now they’re practically flammable. It could be the fact that Edward, Bella’s main vampire squeeze, is played by the ridiculously handsome Robert Pattinson that makes teen girls weak at the knees, but the good looks of the cast don’t hide the fact that Bella’s character is pathetic, needy and attracted to dangerous “men” (well, vampires and werewolves) who could kill her in a heartbeat. Whatever happened to feminism?
Vampires and other creatures that go bump and bite in the night are getting their fifteen minutes worth right now. Books, movies and TV are crawling with creatures of the night. I’m not criticizing the phenomenon – at least this is television with actors and scripts and production values. I will be extremely happy to see the “fifteen minutes” of “reality TV” finally run its course. It’s been a long, long time coming. I blame Jeff Probost. “Survivor” has a lot to answer for.
Susan Boyle doesn’t seem to be enjoying her time in the spotlight very much. For all the fame it’s brought her there’s a price to pay – a lack of privacy and a normal life. Perhaps the caution, “be careful what you wish for,” is really appropriate for those who Popular Culture raises up into the public eye.
Andy Warhol’s famous phrase has never been more apt than now, with people famous for being famous – Jon and Kate plus Eight anyone? – Sometimes for those in the spotlight and those in the audience who try to avoid its glare, 15 minutes can seem like a very long time indeed.
Lady Gaga meets Hello Kitty – Pop Culture Overload!