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Open Right

Famous for Fifteen Minutes

Session Info:

My aim is to encourage children to understand the fickle and superficial nature of fame and the manipulations of the media and spin doctors. By contrast I hope to encourage children to seek something of substance and lasting value in their lives as well as to understand the meaning and value of true friendship.

I was prompted to write ‘The Star’ after closely observing young people’s preoccupation with celebrity and the whole culture that is attached to it. I was astounded by how many children wanted only to be famous – they didn’t even know what for! Fame was an end in itself. In fact they believed the credo that ‘almost anyone can be a star’ as exemplified by the likes of Big Brother, The Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover and a host of other reality TV shows.

Topics:

Fame versus notoriety Self Image and self-belief True friendship versus fickle fans Becoming obnoxious The media’s role in the fame game