‘An outstanding achievement… Graeme Turner writes with power and persuasion, and brilliantly explores what it is about celebrity today that should concern us all’
– Sean Redmond, Deakin University
‘A key touchstone for celebrity studies. Turner thoughtfully illuminates the variety of production and consumption practices through which celebrity circulates today, whilst remaining sensitive to the complexity of power relations in play. An essential read for students and scholars in the field’
– Sue Holmes, University of East Anglia
‘Cements Turner’s status as the most important figure in celebrity studies… Turner’s gaze fixes on developments in digital, social and global mediascapes, drawing media and celebrity studies into complex critical, political and cultural debates in his indomitable style’
– James Bennett, Royal Holloway, University of London
‘An extraordinary synthesis of research and theory… Understanding Celebrity remains the go-to text of celebrity studies’
– Joshua Gamsom, University of San Francisco
Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and reality TV allow us a previously unimagined engagement with the manufactured ′persona′ of celebrity.
Understanding Celebrity has become the go-to text for understanding the connection between the production and consumption of this ′persona′. The long-awaited second edition assesses the changing nature of this pivotal relationship in celebrity studies.
The book:
- Explains how social media is key in establishing an online presence for celebrities
- Critically analyses the changing nature of fan culture within the online environment
- Delves into a richer and more detailed account of the history of celebrity
- Examines in greater depth the increased role of reality TV
- Incorporates recent contributions from feminist scholars to the field
Enriched with new examples drawn from popular culture, this is a contemporary and incisive look at celebrity studies.
Understanding Celebrity is not only an essential text, but a stimulating read for students studying celebrity and popular culture across media studies, cultural studies and sociology.
قائمة المحتويات
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
1. Understanding Celebrity
Celebrity Today
What is Celebrity?
Picture Personalities, Stars, and Celebrities
The Spread of Celebrity Culture
Taxonomies of Fame
The Social Functions of Celebrity
Celebrities and the Publicity Industries
PART TWO: PRODUCTION
2. The Economy of Celebrity
Globalisation and Media Convergence
The Celebrity-Commodity
The Celebrity Industries
Publicity, News and Power
3. Manufacturing Celebrity
Ordinary Talent
′Real′ Celebrities and Reality TV
Taking Control: Producing DIY Celebrity in the Digital Era
4. Celebrity, the Tabloid and the Democratic Public Sphere
Celebrity, Mass Market Magazines and the Tabloids
The ′Tabloidisation′ Debate
′Democratainment′
The Demotic Turn
PART THREE: CONSUMPTION
5. The Cultural Function of Celebrity
Celebrity ′From Below′
The Para-social Relationship
Royal Celebrity
Mourning Diana
Constructing Cultural Identities
6. Consuming Celebrity
Celebrity Watchers
Gossip: The Extended Family, Melodrama and Revenge
Histories of Consumption: Star Gazing
Consuming Celebrity Online
7. Conclusion: Celebrity and Public Culture
Taking Celebrity Seriously
Celebrity, Politics and ′Spin′
Conclusion
عن المؤلف
Graeme Turner is Professor of Cultural Studies at the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland, Australia