ABSTRACT
As we explained in Chapter 1, many scholars and pundits treat celebrity and fame as matters of pathology or commodification. Celebrities are portrayed as narcissists whose fame is based on trivial accomplishments. People who purposefully consume celebrity have been portrayed as capitalist dupes, buying into messages of individualism and consumerism promoted by media coverage. Fans’ interest in stars’ lives and products is said to be a cause and consequence of dysfunctional and exploitive relations in society.
