CELEBRITy and Identities
In this mini-unit, we will explore the idea of fame and celebrity, and our society's insatiable appetite for fame, celebrity gossip, and the limelight.
In an effort to be famous, some celebrities make up fiction about their lives to sell themselves - a fiction that the audience often buys into and supports.
In an effort to be famous, some celebrities make up fiction about their lives to sell themselves - a fiction that the audience often buys into and supports.
Society's Love Affair With Fame and Celebrity
We will begin by viewing a documentary on celebrity and fame called "Starsuckers" that expresses some fairly strong opinions about the status of fame in our country. We will unpack some of the main ideas and prepare our own reflection on the topic of fame as our assignment.
Assignment: Fame (optional)
celebrity_assignment.pdf | |
File Size: | 272 kb |
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Assignment: My Reality TV Show
selling_reality_assignment.pdf | |
File Size: | 58 kb |
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Case Study: Silibil n' Brains
Here is a true story of two Scottish rappers who had to make up backgrounds in order to have success in the North American music scene...
Investigating the Celebrity Lives of Rappers
Have you noticed that sometimes celebrities tell stories about their pasts that turn out not to be true? Why do you think this is the case?
It could even be argued sometimes that we, the audience, know that the background stories are untrue. Perhaps we even expect them to not be true.
Why do we do that?
It seems especially common for rappers, politicians, writers, and athletes. Why them? Who don't we expect the truth from these people? Sometimes they even make up stories that downplay their past successes or achievements, or make them out as criminals when they were anything but that.
It could even be argued sometimes that we, the audience, know that the background stories are untrue. Perhaps we even expect them to not be true.
Why do we do that?
It seems especially common for rappers, politicians, writers, and athletes. Why them? Who don't we expect the truth from these people? Sometimes they even make up stories that downplay their past successes or achievements, or make them out as criminals when they were anything but that.
Below is some data - in both slides and article form - about rappers and their true/fictional identities...
The slideshow below reveals how much certain rappers make compared to how much they boast that they make.
Reading Assignment: Fake Gangsters
english_–_fake_gangsters_assignment.docx | |
File Size: | 56 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Research Assignment: Collecting Information
Other Links About Celebrities and Lies
Writing Assignment: Exposing Celebrity Fiction
tmz_magazine_assignment.pdf | |
File Size: | 97 kb |
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WRITING SAMPLE: "RAPPERS IMAGES UNWRAPPED!"
INTRO:
Every time we turn on the news, another celebrity has been found to be lying about some part of their lives. [introduction introduces the topic, lays out what you are going to be talking about]
EVIDENCE:
FIRST EXAMPLE
Rick Ross, after years of claiming a criminal past, turns out to actually work on the other side of the law as a correctional officer. [example is a complete sentence that provides evidence supporting what you say in your introduction.]
Example 2 follows.
Example 3 follows.
CONCLUSION:
So why do celebrities make up stories about their lives? There must be some reason, and my bet is that it has more to do with audience demands than celebrities wanting to lie. The tragedy is that the same audience turns on the celebrity once the lie is revealed, but what is even worse is that it encourages artists to fit into a box rather than allow them to celebrate a variety of backgrounds, interests, and skills. This has got to change for the good of music and society. [conclusion supports the introduction and brings all the information together to make a final point.]
Every time we turn on the news, another celebrity has been found to be lying about some part of their lives. [introduction introduces the topic, lays out what you are going to be talking about]
EVIDENCE:
FIRST EXAMPLE
Rick Ross, after years of claiming a criminal past, turns out to actually work on the other side of the law as a correctional officer. [example is a complete sentence that provides evidence supporting what you say in your introduction.]
Example 2 follows.
Example 3 follows.
CONCLUSION:
So why do celebrities make up stories about their lives? There must be some reason, and my bet is that it has more to do with audience demands than celebrities wanting to lie. The tragedy is that the same audience turns on the celebrity once the lie is revealed, but what is even worse is that it encourages artists to fit into a box rather than allow them to celebrate a variety of backgrounds, interests, and skills. This has got to change for the good of music and society. [conclusion supports the introduction and brings all the information together to make a final point.]
THE FINISHED PRODUCT
Once the piece is written, it can then be typed and inserted into one of the documents below, where you have the option of adding a new headline, image, or both!
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