When we discussed the archetype of the fool during class, my mind immediately went to the jester which of course isn’t what a fool is. I was rather intrigued by the medieval concept of the court fool who’s sole purpose was to be the lowest level member of the court. As we watch shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, the people within the shows are essentially our court fools. They act as a means for us to feel superior, to feel like we’re not the worst of humankind. Though I admit it is really funny to see other’s humiliation every now and then, but the real satisfaction of watching one’s humiliation comes, for me at least, when they’ve been super cocky and arrogant and are then put into their place. Watching stupid people do stupid things isn’t that fun nor entertaining. These shows just make me question humanity and whether we’re just getting progressively more stupid through time, and a lot of the times I avoid watching these shows in fear that their stupidity will rub off onto me, that if I watch it too much I’ll start acting like them and becoming them. Even that sentiment itself has an inherent desire for superiority, I don’t want to be at the bottom, and I feel better about myself because I am better than them. I remember watching about an experiment in which participants were asked if they thought they were above average. The majority of the participants believed they were above average, but in cases like this, at some point there must be people who aren’t above average but believe they are. Our culture has driven home the idea that being average is not enough, that average is the equivalent of being the worst, the lowest, so naturally no one wants to be average. Judging our own worth has become an act of comparison, measuring our value by comparing ourselves to others: their intelligence, looks, and popularity. Our value of ourselves can change every time we meet someone new or see someone new, and I feel as if we are constantly trying to judge our positions on this spectrum of below-or-above-average. However, our culture also pushes the idea that each individual is special and can become successful and famous with hardwork and dedication. It’s that mentality that many of the kids in Fame Junkies have when they audition in the IMTA. Expecting children to act like adults but also leading the children on, giving them false hope for success and fame. It’s bad enough that many of the kid’s reasons for pursuing celebrity is most often to find some form of love or attention that they lack in their own lives. From Merlander’s talk about finding talent, it sounds as if agents are looking for adult divas rather than children. I especially hated how Merlander pointed out kids and telling Halpern what each one of them would be in the future. It seems sick to diagnose a child’s future when they’re so young and to say that a kid will be a hooker in the future was especially distasteful. These kids are taught to sell themselves to agents who only see them as a commodity to make money. Reading Fame Junkies left me disgusted with the entertainment industry, taking advantage of children’s insecurities and dreams, and leading them on even when no one will hire them.
- Lilian