Topic: This module explores the cultural, social and economic impact of celebrity on contemporary life. Which is the most important
Reflective Essay: In writing your essay you should draw from the evidence and academic readings that we have explored during the module. However we also want you to reflect on your own personal consumption of celebrity culture and your own responses to the issues that we have discussed during the course. As with a normal essay you should plan your reading and preparation of the essay effectively to ensure that you have access to the material you need. You can include media examples where relevant and appropriate.
The Economic Function of Celebrity – Celebrity as Industry.
Key Reading
Hoyan, L. (2013) Chapter 15: “The Mouse House of Cards: Disney Tween Stars and Questions of Institutional Authorship” in Jonathan Gray and Derek Johnson (Eds.) Companion to Media Authorship, John Wiley & Sons, pp. 296-313. (E-BOOK)
Further Reading
Belton, J. (2005), Chapter 5: “The Star System” in American Cinema/American Culture (Second Edition), pp.91- 125. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Butler, J. G. “The Star System and Hollywood”. In Hill, John and Pamela Church Gibson (eds.) (1998), The Oxford Guide to Film Studies, pp.342-53. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gamson J. (1994) “The Name and the Product: Late 20th Century Celebrity” in Claims to Fame: Celebrity in Contemporary America, University of California Press, pp 40-56
Franck, E. & Nuesch, S. (2007). “Avoiding `Star Wars’- Celebrity Creation as Media Strategy.” Kyklos, 60(2): 211- 230.
Marshall, P. D. (1997) ‘The System of Celebrity’ in Celebrity and Power: Fame in Contemporary Culture, Minneapolis/ London: University of Minnesota Press, pp. 185-202
McCracken, G. (2005) ‘Who is the Celebrity Endorser Cultural Foundations of the Endorsement Process,’ in Culture and Consumption II: Markets, Meaning, and Brand Management, Bloomington/ Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, pp. 97-188.
Paek, Hye-Jin (2005) “Understanding Celebrity Endorsers in Cross-cultural Contexts: A Content Analysis of South Korean and US Newspaper Advertising” Asian Journal of Communication, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp 133-153.
Schickel, R (1985) Common Fame: the Culture of Celebrity, London: Pavilion, Chapter Five, pp. 134-208.
Turner, G. (2006). The mass production of celebrity. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 9(2): 153-165.
Yamamoto, L. (2000) “Copyright Protection and Internet Fan Sites: Entertainment Industry Finds Solace in Traditional Copyright Law,” Los Angeles Law Review Vol. 20, No. 95, pp 95-128, available online http://elr.lls.edu/issues/v20-issue1/yamamoto.pdf
The Social Function of Celebrity: Audiences, Identification and Celebrity Worship
Key Reading
Howells, R (2011) “Heroes, saints and celebrities: the photograph as holy relic” Celebrity Studies, Vol. 2, No. 2, 112-130.
Further Reading
Click, M.A, Hyunji Lee & Holly Willson Holladay (2013) “Making Monsters: Lady Gaga, Fan Identification, and Social Media” Popular Music and Society Vol 36, Issue 3, 360-379
Giles, D. (2000) Illusions of Immortality, MacMillan, Chapter 8, pp. 128-145. Giles, D (2002) “Parasocial Interaction: A Review of the Literature and a Model for Future Research” Media Psychology Vol. 4, Issue 3, 279-305.
Hermes, J. (1999) ‘Media Figures in Identity Construction’, in P. Alasuutari (ed.) Rethinking the Media Audience: The New Agenda, London: Sage, pp. 69-85.
Horton, D. and R. R. Wohl (1956): ‘Mass Communication and Para-social Interaction: Observations on Intimacy at a Distance’ Psychiatry 19: 215-229. Extract available online at: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Modules/TF33120/horton_and_wohl_1956.html
Jenson, J. (1992) ‘Fandom as Pathology: The Consequences of Characterisation’ in Lewis, L. (ed.) The Adoring Audience: Fan Culture and Popular Media, London: Routledge, pp. 9-29.
Lin, H. S. (2012) “Emotions, Desires, and Fantasies: What Idolizing Means for Yon-sama Fans in Japan” in J. G. Karlin Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture, Palgrave, pp 166–182.
Maltby, J. (2004) “Celebrity and Religious Worship: A Refinement” The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied. Vol. 138, Issue 3, 286-288.
McCutcheon, Lange & Houran (2002) “Conceptualization and measurement of celebrity worship.” British Journal of Psychology, 93(1) :67-87.
McCutcheon LE, Ashe DD, Houran J, Maltby J. (2003). “A cognitive profile of individuals who tend to worship celebrities.” Journal of Psychology, 137(4):309-322.
Nunn, H. and Biressi, A. (2010) “’A trust betrayed’: celebrity and the work of emotion”, Celebrity Studies, 1 (1), 49-64.
Rojek, C. (2001). ‘Celebrity and Religion’ Chapter 2 of Celebrity, London: Reaktion, pp. 51-100.
Soukup, C. (2006) “Hitching a Ride on a Star: Celebrity, Fandom, and Identification on the World Wide Web” Southern Communication Journal, Vol. 71, No. 4, pp 319-337.
Turner, G. (2004) ‘Consuming Celebrity’ Chapter 6 of Understanding Celebrity, London: Sage, pp. 109-127