Kim who?

Dennie Quill, Gleaner Columnist

Everywhere I turned on the Internet last week, I was bombarded with stories about Kim Kardashian's upcoming wedding. Those who stay alert to celebrity gossip and Hollywood glitz would readily recognise her as one of three sisters with initials 'K' who have been flaunting their immense wealth on reality television.

But for many baby boomers like me, the question most often asked was, "Kim who?" Details of the lavish California affair were released daily, ensuring that the thirst for celebrity news was well and truly quenched.

In the hierarchy of marital extravagance, this one was way out front. From the US$15,000 10-tier wedding cake, to three wedding gowns and white African violets and multimillion-dollar jewellery, the public was kept abreast of the star-studded affair between the reality star and her basketball beau Kris.

Mouths watered as the nearly 500 guests guzzled champagne and wolfed down Wolfgang Puck's four-course delight.

Most surprising of all is the fact that the couple spent next to nothing on this fairy-tale wedding. With freebies, sales of photographs and a prime-time October E! special, the couple is reportedly set to earn US$18 million from their wedding. Free dresses, champagne, invitations and other goodies were all exchanged for participation in the four-hour, two-part E! wedding extravaganza, which will be aired in October and for which the couple is set to earn US$15 million.

Parallel universe

The media's blanket coverage of such events may suggest that this is how life is supposed to be lived. However, most people will recognise that celebrities live in a parallel universe. Fact is, Kim Kardashian's life, like that of many other celebrities that we see portrayed in the media, is nothing near normal.

However, with the advent of cable television, the celebrity culture is more accessible and in your face all the time. Many people consider their own lives dull and long to experience the media frenzy that attends the lives of the likes of Kim Kardashian. In poor societies like ours, we nevertheless try to ape the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

They say you can truly understand a culture by its heroes. Reflect with me for a moment on our national heroes and consider the contribution they have made to our society. Now I challenge you to have a discussion with any teenager about heroes and I guarantee they will be able to tell you much more about our local Rising Stars characters than they could about Alexander Bustamante or Norman Manley. Members of the current generation are more likely to be turned on by fame and fortune than by achievement through hard work and sacrifice.

There is so much to be said about celebrity culture in our world as it continues to influence what we eat, what we wear, and how we spend our time.

Indeed, it is a topic that could be hotly debated, but I anticipate that as parents go about back-to-school shopping this weekend, there is no doubt that many will be influenced by their children to buy expensive, branded products because they are cool and they define who they are, according to the doctrine of celebrities and the media.

Could it be that by focusing on the titillating details of people's lives, the media are turning attention away from serious public issues? And could this be blamed for the increased apathy to politics these days?

Dennie Quill is a veteran media practitioner. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.