Is Fame Dead?
I grew up with movie stars born of the Hollywood studio system and larger than life icons from literature, politics, sports, art, music and beyond. Everyone knew these exceptional people. Whenever one of them entered a crowded room or was dining in the #1 booth at the toniest restaurants or just passed you by on the street, the world suddenly came to a halt for a split second. These were our heroes, the people whose lives were filled with magic or overcame great tragedy or revolutionized the world. These were the people that stood for things and survived the test of time.
I was fortunate to meet some of the greats of my day throughout my life. I could rattle off names of Presidents, Nobel Laureates, Royalty, actors, musicians, artists, writers and explorers that I met or spent time with. Revealing their names is not important, but it is the "larger than lifeness" they all brought to the table that counts. It was their energy, wisdom, empathy, talent and humanity that I remember.
Today, however, the traditional model of fame, where a small number of individuals become universally recognized and maintained their status over long periods, has been largely lost, disrupted by six key factors at play in our 21st century culture:
1. Decentralization of Media: With the proliferation of digital platforms, there are now many more channels through which individuals can achieve fame. This has had the effect of decentralizing fame, making it more accessible to a broader range of people, but also more fragmented and diminished. For example:
YouTube: Content creators like PewDiePie and MrBeast have built massive followings through their unique video content, gaining fame outside traditional media channels.
TikTok: Charli D'Amelio became famous for her dance videos on TikTok, quickly amassing millions of followers and becoming a recognizable name.
Podcasting: Joe Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," has become one of the most popular podcasts globally, attracting high-profile guests and millions of listeners.
Streaming Platforms: Twitch streamers like Ninja (Tyler Blevins) have gained fame through live-streaming video games, creating a dedicated fan base.
Blogging: Perez Hilton gained fame through his celebrity gossip blog, which became a significant source of entertainment news.
2. Niche Fame: The internet allows individuals to become famous within specific communities or interest groups. These niche celebrities may not be known to the general public, but they have significant influence within their areas of expertise or interest, often for only a brief period of time. For example:
Tech YouTubers: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) is well-known within the tech community for his in-depth gadget reviews and tech discussions.
Fitness Influencers: Kayla Itsines became famous within the fitness community for her workout programs and social media presence, influencing many fitness enthusiasts.
Cooking Bloggers: Smitten Kitchen's Deb Perelman is famous within the cooking community for her approachable recipes and food photography.
Gaming YouTubers: Dream, a Minecraft content creator, is extremely popular within the gaming community for his Minecraft videos and streams.
BookTubers: Booktubers like Ariel Bissett have gained fame within the book community for their book reviews, recommendations and literary discussions.
3. Ephemeral Fame: The speed at which information spreads and trends change means that fame can be very short-lived. Viral sensations can become famous overnight, but often fade into obscurity just as quickly. For example:
Viral Memes: The "Damn Daniel" video became an internet sensation for a brief period, making the subjects of the video briefly famous.
Vine Stars: Many stars like Nash Grier gained quick fame on Vine, a short-form video platform that no longer exists, and many struggled to maintain their fame after Vine shut down.
"Chewbacca Mom": Candace Payne went viral for her joyful video of wearing a Chewbacca mask, gaining short-term fame.
"Alex from Target": A photo of Alex LaBeouf working at Target went viral, making him an internet celebrity for a brief period.
TikTok Trends: The "Renegade" dance made Jalaiah Harmon famous on TikTok, but many viral stars from such trends often experience short-lived fame.
4. Influencer Culture: Social media influencers represent a particular 21st century form of fame. They often build strong, loyal followings within specific niches and can wield considerable influence, even if they are not widely recognized outside their follower base. For example:
Huda Kattan: Huda is a beauty influencer who founded Huda Beauty, a successful cosmetics brand, leveraging her social media following.
Logan Paul: Logan Paul is a controversial YouTuber who has a massive following and has transitioned into boxing, maintaining his influence across different platforms.
Zoe Sugg: Also known as Zoella, Zoe is a beauty and lifestyle influencer who has built a significant following on YouTube and Instagram.
David Dobrik: David Dobrik is a popular YouTube personality known for his vlogs, which have garnered a large and loyal following.
Emma Chamberlain: Emma gained fame for her relatable and comedic videos on YouTube, becoming a significant influencer in the fashion and lifestyle sectors.
5. Democratization of Fame: The barriers to achieving fame have lowered. Anyone with an internet connection and compelling content can gain a following. This democratization means more people can become famous, but it also means fame is less exclusive and more transient. For example:
Rebecca Black: Rebecca Black gained fame from her viral song "Friday," which was widely criticized but still made her a household name.
Lil Nas X: Lil Nas X used the internet to promote his song "Old Town Road," which went viral on TikTok and led to mainstream success.
Shane Dawson: Shane Dawson built his fame through YouTube, creating various types of content over the years and becoming a well-known internet personality.
Tana Mongeau: Tana gained fame on YouTube with her storytime videos and controversial content, leading to a substantial online following.
Bhad Bhabie: Danielle Bregoli, known as Bhad Bhabie, gained fame from a viral moment on "Dr. Phil" and transitioned into a music career.
6. Globalization: Fame is now a global phenomenon. Celebrities can achieve international recognition more easily, but they also face competition from a global pool of aspiring famous individuals. For example:
BTS: The South Korean boy band BTS has achieved global fame, breaking into the Western music market and gaining fans worldwide.
Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka transitioned from Bollywood fame to global recognition through her roles in American television and film.
PSY: The South Korean singer PSY gained international fame with his viral hit "Gangnam Style," which became a global phenomenon.
Malala Yousafzai: Malala gained global recognition for her advocacy for girls' education, becoming an internationally renowned figure.
Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese footballer has a massive international following, making him one of the most recognized athletes globally.
Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga: No explanation needed.
The idea of becoming "famous for being famous" or making a career of "being an influencer" or building a "brand" are common goals of Gen Zers today. While traditional, enduring, history-book fame still exists, fame in and of itself is not dead, it has just been diluted and made more temporary. (Although survival of the history book is in doubt.)
Where have all the heroes gone? Some of those who achieved Globalization above have characteristics that can bestow durable fame. Most of those in the other categories above are on their way to be gone by tomorrow.
Has our need to celebrate great human achievement changed? Have we lost our institutional collective knowledge of history? Have we substituted fleeting popularity with durability? Is everyone transfixed in making and remaking their own 15 minutes of fame? Are we, as a society, better off for this turn of events?
I leave the answers up to you. The Comment link is live.