I’m gonna live forever? Or so goes that line in that one song that makes your feet do funny things.
I don’t want to talk about the movie, the song or dancing, though. But rather literally about the subject of fame. Or is it an object? It occurs to me, because someone in my team at work mumbled today that one needs to be a YouTube hit these days.
Really? Is that all one should aspire to? Considering the number of videos on YouTube (millions is what I’m talking about), chances of getting discovered there are remote. At best. It worked for a handful of people and few of them are truly talented. They were lucky. There are thousands of people to be found on YouTube, who are just as talented, if not more, but have no hope of ever being discovered. And if being discovered is the only reason they’ve uploaded a video and do whatever it is they do, maybe they shouldn’t be discovered.
Success, in whatever craft, art or profession one chooses, is the result of tireless and very hard work. Luck plays a role, but it’s a matter of chance and can’t be calculated.
Let’s not forget that success is also not the same as fame. Some people only aim for the latter and I have to wonder why. Arriving at an answer is not very hard. It’s hard to escape exposure to the “lives” of the rich, beautiful and famous people. They’re called celebrities for a reason.
Obviously we’re not seeing their real lives. We only see what money can buy for them. And we’re watching it with envy.
I’m using a collective “we” here, because many people seem to feel like that. I can honestly say that I don’t. Simply because I don’t want what they have. I don’t want to live like that and I certainly don’t need any of it. I don’t envy them. Those celebrities, the ones that truly fall into that category, don’t live lives that anyone should aspire to, because they seem to be mostly shallow and sad.
Money can’t buy happiness, neither can fame. Not all actors, actresses, artists, painters, writers, musicians and whatnot’s can or should be called celebrities. Plenty of them try their best to live the most private lives they can and only come out of the wood-works when publicity for a new project requires it. Or sometimes just to enjoy themselves.
You’ll never seem them drunk or posing for the cameras, you may never see them off the red carpets of the world at all.
Them I admire, because they managed to keep themselves together.
Some celebrities become victims of fame, so do a lot of artists, who never sought celebrity, but became famous regardless and couldn’t escape its trappings.
Fame is not easy. It doesn’t make anyone happy. It’s a huge responsibility. It can be destructive, if you’re not ready for it and I don’t see how anyone can be ready for it.
So, again, I have to wonder, why anybody would want it? Are people really that blind and short sighted?
“Oh, what am I saying? Of course they are!” says my cynical self and can’t help it. To refute it seems rather difficult as well. There’s too much evidence around.
One of these days, maybe, I’m going to have to try and start a discourse. I don’t just want to hear myself talk. Or read my own words, if you like to be literal. I want to know your opinion.
Stop lurking and start talking. You’ll never be famous, if you keep quiet. That is certain. You’re going to have to announce yourself somehow, even if you’re a mute painter. You’re going to have to get yourself out there and show somebody.
So, do you want to be famous? Why? How would you do it? What special talent would you use? Or if you don’t have a talent, what other means come to mind?
I’m curious. Incurably. Do you still not know that?
2clouds 