Famous People # Band 9
We have been talking about the famous people in your country. Let us talk about them in more general.
What kind of people become famous in your country?
In random, definitely the politicians and also some actors and actresses are very famous among random people.
What about the past? Is it the same in the past, were politicians and actors and actress famous?
Yes, definitely the past, if you are talking about the 50s and 60s. Movies were the number one communication between villagers and town.. So, people knew actors and actresses better than the politicians. Compared to now, when you have access to television and internet, where people follow politician’s personal life more than actors and actress.
What do you think about the future, will this continue?
Yes. I think definitely in the future. Because the world is becoming globalised. Random will have tendency to be exposed to more international celebrities compared to local. So, we would follow international politics, may be British or American.
Often famous people are used in advertisement. Can you give me some examples?
Yes, famous people are used in advertisement, especially sports celebrities like tiger woods promoting sports equipment or sport clothes. Other than that I think there are more models and actors/actress, who sponsor things like perfumes etc.
Is that always true, that whatever profession they are involved in that is the kind of product they tend to promote?
I don’t think that is true. Because a lot of celebrities support clothes and perfumes where it should be models that do it.
Do you think celebrities bring negative effect in our youth?
As you can see, in lifestyles and health, celebrities and models are becoming thinner. When opening magazine, young girls will be exposed to them. Although it is normal for the model to be thin, it might cause the young girl to get into anorexia or bulimia or unhealthy practices because they think being thin is a norm whereas being healthy and being normal bodied is the normal.
What about young boys?
I think, most definitely… I think young boys could be influenced materialistically, like they would want the cars and the cool gadgets that they use. It could make boys realise that materialistic things are the only way to happiness.
How can celebrities can be used to influence public opinion?
Celebrities are used like you can see PETA, the organisation for protection of endangered species. They use celebrities to get public attention. Like there is this promotion where they get celebrities to get naked to show that animals are stripped like foxes and seals for their fur and it strikes a chord because it is a celebrity.