Defining a term
As I was finishing the slide show for today’s in-class presentation (it went wonderfully, thanks for asking), I realized I would be blogging late again and probably wouldn’t be able to do much research. So what is a gal to do when she doesn’t have any material? Make shit up, that’s what. So today’s topic: what defines a “new” celebrity? Where do we make that distinction?
Obviously, household names that have been around for a decade (or more) aren’t new. Madonna: Not New. Beyoncé: Not New. Blondie: Not New. But what about people like America Ferrera, who has earned critical & public accolades for her recent work but has been around for a few years (Real Women Have Curves was 2002 & The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was 2005)? Are child stars like Dakota Fanning, whose first role was an episode of E.R. in 2000 when she was just 6 years old, considered new as long as they’re still children? How many albums does an individual or band need to release before they’re not “new” anymore? Two? Three? Is Joss Stone, who won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2005 and has just released her third album, still considered a new celebrity?
I’ve been going on gut feeling and general “breaking onto the scene” as a guideline up to this point, but I’d like some input.
As always, leaving a comment entitles you to a random CD from my collection. E-mail your address to me: jen[at]gonzopants[dot]com after you comment so I can send you one. Limit one per person, while supplies last. Anna, yours will go out tomorrow. Everyone else: e-mail me. Tonya, you get one next time you come to my apartment. No, I will not tell you which one :-p
Joss Stone, Dakota Fanning, E.R., music, movies, Beyonce, Madonna, Blondie, pop music, British artists, America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, television
March 6th, 2007 at 6:31 am
Dakota Fanning certainly isn’t new. She’s actually a powerful entity in Hollywood who never has to audition for a role, and in fact often determines if a project will be greenlighted by simply agreeing to be in it. The kid also makes $3 million per movie.
I’d say someone who is just now enjoying their first real success could be considered “new,” even if they’ve been at it for a while.
March 7th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Did you get my email suggestion about a new singer? I think I sent it to you last week.