Just different from us
Maggie says:
This breaking news story on CNN annoys the hell out of me. Why is it news that Brad Pitt has the flu? More importantly, why do celebrities routinely check themselves into hospitals for things the rest of us just deal with? You know, things like the flu. What was Michael Jackson always in the hospital for during his trial - back pains or something? What is wrong with these people?
posted by Maggie @ 4:18 PM
12 Comments:
I hear ya on that one. Celebs drive me crazy. Sometimes I feel way too obsessed because of my constant irritation by them!
Not only that, but on that site you can actually have an update alert sent to your email on Brad Pitt. Yea, ok, no one gets an email alert when I do anything let alone have the flu...
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what makes this whole Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie obsession even weirder, in fact surreal, is the way the two of them go on and on about poverty in Africa and other places around the world. While they keep saying, essentially, "look over there - that's what's really important", the media keep saying "wow, look at these two beautiful people ride their bike, walk on the beach, get the flu." And the public buys it up. What the two of them try to point out as an essential priority (dire hunger) is completely brushed aside by the public's mad feeding on celebrity, which is pushed by the entertainment pimps.
and their own complicity in promoting their fame and celebrity is what makes them completely absurd. in fact, they're almost schizophrenic. on the one hand they are trying to tell people to not pay attention to them, but to Africa and poverty instead. on the other hand, they make the type of movie that absolutely promotes the consumer pop culture we live in, that glamorizes certain ways of being that are completely out of reach for ordinary people.
I agree on all of the points made here, but with one caveat: We don't know what we don't know. Yes, it's a profoundly Rumsfeldian statement (shiver!), but there's nonetheless an element of truth to it.
Some good may come from celebrities publicly aligning themselves with certain causes, and I think we need to be careful about assigning motives to their actions.
I have no doubt celebrities - including the ones who visibly put themselves out there front and center - also contribute behind the scenes, and neither receive nor aspire to recognition for their service.
As for checking into a hospital for the flu, I'm not sure whether it's prima dona syndrome or the possibility it might be easier to get some R & R there (it's probably one of the few ways to get a movie studio off one's back during a stressful period which may or may not involve real illness).
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Am I being generous today, or what???
I'm sure he's afraid he has some exotic illness from being in a "third-world" country. That's what happens when you go globetrotting to adopt poor orphans (Jolie was quoted as saying something akin to "get them out of there). It does point out a certain discomfort, shall we say, that underlies these particular celebrities' connection to foreign countries. I think running to the hospital underscores Marjorie's point about their hypocrisy. These people need help! But first, innoculate me against ANYTHING I may catch over there. Is it possible for me to wear an oxygen mask? No? Bummer. Guess I'll just "risk" it.
Maybe it's a really bad case of the flu - who knows? It's fine if he wants to check himself into a hospital. As far as I can tell, that's all we know. It's the press that's speculating about what it might be and where he might have caught it. What makes it sickening is that it's BIG NEWS that he went to the hospital. Sure, I think wealthy people can have good values, and celebrities can promote causes to try to bring attention to them. I don't have a problem with that per se. For instance, I love the fact that Susan Sarandon will get arrested in NYC over police brutality. What makes this particular case interesting is that they are so outspoken on a really important issue, but made almost ridiculous due to the rabid feeding on their every move - are they a couple/aren't they a couple? did he cheat/didn't he cheat? are they pregnant? etc etc etc There's a really absurd element to it. And they compound it by being super hip, super cool, doing mid-century mod layouts in fashionable magazines, doing movies that play up this jet setter, rich image. They play right into it with the movies they've chosen, at least in the past couple of years. At the same time they are taking on one of the most dire issues on the planet - the fact that so many people starve or live on the edge of starvation every year. I find them weird. I mean, why do they think that poverty exists in the first place?
Great analysis, guys.
One thing, Marjorie: I thought you were the one always doing "mid-century mod layouts in fashionable magazines."
:-)
yep, you got my number, maggie. that's all me!!
Don't deny it. I've see the pics. Meow.
Update as of today: viral meningitis. Good thing he went to the hospital. Pretty serious. They diagnos meningitis by taking a spiral tap. Not fun. Certainly not pain free.
hmmm... should i feel guilty?
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