Baftas 2014: The Wonderful World of Celebrity

screaming as celebrities passed them, dreaming about just some kind of acknowledgement. What intrigued me most about this fascination with celebrity, were the motivations behind people investing their time in this bizarre parasocial relationship. Did they even care which celebrity they squeezed an autograph from or momentary eye contact with, provided that they had a piece of the action? This really is an increasing phenomenon referred to as celebrity worship syndrome, one that is becoming quite concerning.

I started to really consider what being fully a celebrity actually means and what creates the psychological divide between'them'and'us '. A divide that is so apparent it is acceptable to lust after and drool over pictures of these half naked, without your mate even batting an eyelid. Why is this OK, just since they are on one other side of the screen? The solution is generally,'But that would never happen ', a justification I've always found baffling and the little voice in my head has said,'But what if it could?' , (which it can).

So the answer to my question, courtesy of Wikipedia, is;

'A celebrity is just a person, who features a prominent profile in day-to-day media and as a result of this commands some degree of public fascination and influence. A celebrity is generally anticipated to be wealthy, implied with great popular appeal, prominence in a specific field, and is easily identified by the general public.'

OK, so nothing surprising there. But at what point does someone turn into a celebrity? Even on the planet of the'elite'there is hierarchy, from A-listers to Z-listers. I wonder how the avid fans would answer bumping into a Z-lister. Would they uncontrollably scream in their face, or is that only after they get half way up the alphabet?

When we look back once again to the Greek and Roman gods and the gladiators of the Roman Civilisation we are able to start to see the birth of the celebrity culture, heroes admired for his or her superhuman strength and honourable qualities. winston tabakThe celebrity status developed further in the Dark Ages, encompassing monarchs & religious figures and later artists were taken beneath the celebrity wing. They were all positive role models being celebrated for his or her admirable traits and achievements.

Unfortunately, in the 21st century a new breed of celebrity has been born. No more is the status exclusive to those high achievers who have earned it. Reality television has allowed for visitors to become famous and to be obsessed over merely for existing, or even worse, for behaving like idiots.

I quote Felix Dennis, among Britain's wealthiest self-made entrepreneurs, who highlights the detrimental effects to these victims of empty admiration;

'With the onset of sudden celebrity, the planet often becomes a richer, narrower, less generous place; a paradox that elicits scant sympathy, but is nonetheless true.'

For a fleeting moment on the red carpet, I possibly could empathise with the incongruence this new form of celebrity must regularly experience. The external illusion and unfounded adulation for being on the red carpet, paralleled with the slight embarrassment of a complete not enough justification with this attention.

This is just a glimpse of what it should be for folks who are infamous, living a lie and receiving praise whilst lacking the conviction and self-esteem to accompany it. They're often portrayed as either glowing examples of perfection or in comparison as decadent or immoral. Dangerously, younger generations are selecting these public figures as role models, glorifying and mimicking their destructive behaviours and aspiring to overnight fame for the hell of it.

Fortunately, the Baftas was swarming with greatly talented actors, producers, designers etc., such as Oprah Wimphrey, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tom Hanks, who have dedicated themselves with their craft and earned their status.

Director Steve McQueen said in his acceptance speech for the Best Film award for 12 Years a Slave;

'There are 21 million people in slavery now even as we sit here. I just hope 150 years from now our ambivalence won't allow another film-maker to create this film.'

This is exactly what being fully a celebrity must certanly be about - achieving status for amazing achievements in just about any area of life and using that platform for the good of humanity.

As Brad Pitt described this film;

'It's a story that says we're yet, that freedom and dignity is everything, and that is what we've to fight for '.

Ironically, the nominees had another after party in an area next door. The sooner we realise people are essentially yet and be selective in who we idolise and celebrate, the brighter the future is likely to be for all of us all. For those getting rightfully recognised for what they have worked hard for and excelled in, for anyone not being falsely loved and causing them great psychological troubles and for future generations being handed down more helpful messages.

Leah Perkins is just a Psychologist, Personal Development Coach & founder of The Happy Millionaire. Leah specialises in mastering the dark side of wealth, power & fame; optimising your relationships with money, other folks & most of all with yourself.