In-class assignment

How do authors define celebrity?

Celebrity is a practice and does not refer to a person. It refers to being well known across the “spectrum of fame”. To be well known as a celebrity or a micro-celebrity, one must have influence on the internet. Some websites, such as Twitter, have already famous people on them to make themselves more well-known. However, other websites such as YouTube generally have the public publishing videos, making them micro-celebrity.

What is the main premise/argument?

Websites such as Twitter can study celebrity practice through the interactions of the famous people/fans, and can show the difference between celebrity and micro-celebrity. Due to social media, there are now different brands of fame as people make themselves well-known across the internet. Already famous individuals can show the “real them” with fans by answering their tweets or even having conversations with a separate individual on Twitter. Even though they are still promoting themselves and what they do, they also want to look like the “common man” to relate their fans.

How can you relate this to your digital activity?

I don’t have an Instagram or post a lot about myself in general, because I would prefer the only people who know me to be those I’ve met in person. I do follow some famous people on Twitter that I like that are the general kind of celebrity, but I also follow some who practice micro-celebrity (YouTube stars, etc.)