Celebrity manufacture theory: Revisiting the theorization of celebrity culture. Issue 2 (1st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matusitz, Jonathan; Simi, Demi
• Is Part Of: Empedocles. Volume 12:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 129
• Page End: 144
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01
• Subjects: Communication -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 302.201
• DOI: 10.1386/ejpc_00033_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-1952

Abstract

Celebrity Manufacture Theory postulates that both the emergence of celebrities and our fascination with them are shaped by the media. Another premise of the theory is that a person's fame does not necessarily correlate with the talent or achievements of that person. Rather, it often depends on the way the media manufacture that person as a celebrity. Today's celebrity culture extols a particular type of fame ‐ one created and sustained by media production. Hence, there is a painstaking method of personification and commodification at work. The pursuit for authenticity is not the objective of Celebrity Manufacture Theory. For this reason, the theory is an example of a 'manipulation theory'. It describes how media industries manipulate audiences through mass-mediated celebrity production. To best understand Celebrity Manufacture Theory, four major tenets are thoroughly described in this article: (1) media mirage, (2) democratization of spotlight, (3) commodity and (4) cultural mutation.