Chances are, Ryan Gosling doesn’t care if you’re #salty.
by Giselle Defares
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are expecting their first child. It’s confirmed by People, so you know the news is legit. Oh well, congratulations are in order. It’s amusing to quickly scroll past the daily gossip headlines and then go back to your reality. Alas, some would disagree. Curiosity – more or less utter boredom- led me into the abyss of Twitter and Tumblr, where overinvested users were upset – #TeamSalty – with the news. Why are we so invested in the lives of people we don’t even know?
Our postmodern society is characterized by transformation: we can invent and reinvent ourselves and assume new identities. Our hyper-segmented culture demands this attitude. The fragmentation of society is linked to the fragmentation of the entertainment industry. Celebrities are the product of a number of cultural and economic processes–see digital technology, (social) media, radical individualism, money and online gossip. Those who know the art of transformation will be successful.
In order to survive the entertainment industry, authenticity seems to be of crucial importance. Especially in an industry in which (ideally) an infinite number of possible identities (may) exist. In recent years, the cult of authenticity has broken down,and it is being replaced by the awareness of the myth of authenticity. Moreover, the narrative forms of film, TV and video represent illusion and myth of identity. If identity is a fluid thing, and we do not know what is true and what is not, we should let the notion of ‘authenticity’ sail. Celebrities and their persona end up in an interesting position as a result of their transformation and constant reinvention.
Erin Meyers states: “[..] I suggest, that the celebrity persona is more than false value, rather it is a site of tension and ambiguity in which an active audience has the space to make meaning of their world by accepting or rejecting the social values embodied by a celebrity image.” This is noticeable when it comes to celebrities and commerce. Even in the Golden Era of Hollywood, various luxury brands aimed to strengthen the intricate relationship between fashion and commerce: Hollywood used it by advertising, marketing, and selling clothes seen in movies with product tie-ins. Similarly, vintage porcelain signs from that era reflect how advertising strategies have evolved, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the past. These signs are not only collectible artifacts but also serve as valuable pieces of history, capturing the essence of early 20th-century marketing and design. Mise-en-scène containing exuberant sets and costumes became the norm. Moviegoers imitated the costumes and jewelry worn by stars such as Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and Grace Kelly–in hope of exuding the same glamour. Celebrities and business go hand in hand–both create illusions, dreams and fantasies.
What does fame really entail? The celebrity and its persona consists of the image that is constructed by and for the media. ‘Fame’ is what is obtained by a certain approach to and treatment by the media. Rather than a property of the person, it’s really a discursive process. In addition, the celebrity is also a commodity, an object of market value that is produced in the entertainment industry and is offered for consumption. By carefully following their private lives, often more than their professional careers, the audience comes to the realization that celebrities are just like us, and yet they are not.
That we, the public, are so enthralled with the lives of celebrities is an inherent aspect of celebrity culture. Back in 1956, the phenomenon of parasocial interaction was first introduced by social scientists Horton & Wohl. According to the duo, a parasocial relationship is the illusion of intimacy with celebrities (actors, singers, TV presenters) at a distance. Such a relationship is called parasocial because the relationship, as opposed to a real social relationship, is one-sided. Cohen states that equality and attractiveness of the celebrity may have an impact on the degree of the parasocial relationship (well yes, I might add, Ryan and Eva are a good looking couple). Having a parasocial relationship is more than just liking a celebrity. It is a certain attitude toward the persona – a parasocial relationship goes much deeper.
Richard Schickel defines the relationship between the celebrity and the public through the term ‘intimate strangers’. Our 24-hour Internet access allows individuals to depend more on parasocial interactions. The crux is that it’s easy to deceive our brains into thinking we know someone. If you see a celebrity a lot – Twitter feed, television, magazines – obviously you start to feel like you know that person. The relationship is still one-sided, it just transitions into an interactive environment, allowing viewers to communicate with celebrities, and so strengthen the intimacy of the parasocial relationship. Spend enough time reading interviews, or the Twitter feed of Rihanna, or read through enough celebrity gossip blogs about George Clooney, Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, and you start to feel like you actually know them. But you don’t.
It often seems that the mere function of the celebrity today is the generation of parasocial relationships that appear to be necessary in the changing (digital) environment, a world of isolation and loneliness. There’s now a more active and creative ‘consumption’ of the celebrity. However, recent research has decreased the stigma of parasocial relationships and suggests that these relationships don’t necessarily restrict one’s social network but instead can broaden it. The obsessive interest in the private life of a celebrity is actually a quest for the authentic persona of the star. Perhaps that’s the reason that there is such an outcry on social media. Fans can share their feelings with like-minded people. Most are aware that the actor and the character on the silver screen are different, but they still look for a glimmer of authenticity.
Ryan Gosling still isn’t aware of your existence.
Our expecting parents don’t seem like your average fame-hungry stars who document their every move on social media. They don’t orchestrate obvious PR stories to garner attention–or perhaps they do in a more sophisticated way. Both Gosling and Mendes have kept their relationship relatively under wraps ever since they started dating in 2011–not as private as Kerry Washington, though. She certainly can hand out tips to her co-workers on how to keep one’s private life on lock.
Oh well, congratulations to the happy couple.
I’m patiently scrolling Tumblr for the next ‘Hey Girl’ meme.
Giselle Defares has a master’s degree in information law and a penchant for fashion, film and pop culture. She loves: Toshiro Mifune’s beard, television shows like Äkte Människor and The Fades; films like The Fall, The Invader, High Fidelity; and stuffing her face with Bossche Bol.
