Celebrity Colonialism- The New Black
2006-Jun-13 by Laughcalvin
Brendan O'Neill lays out the case against celebs taking over third world countries in the name of privacy and "special experiences."
Here we can see how celebrities, whether knowingly or not, can easily exploit the weaknesses of small impoverished states. If the reports are to be believed, then Brad and Angelina used their decision to stay in Namibia as leverage in getting what they wanted from the Namibian government. And they also seem to have got the government to do the kind of things that would be frowned upon in the West, such as ban journalists from entering the country and deporting others. The Namibian government feels itself reliant upon the patronage of two internationally known actors, while those actors take refuge in the Namibian government’s apparent willingness to enforce draconian measures. It is an unholy marriage of today’s celebrity-obsession with the backwater politics of a small African state.
Actually it seems like a perfect American thing to do: Accept headaches from the publicity machine in return for loads of cash that you don't need anyway, and then funnel it to charities for credibility. And then there is the whole power-trip of having a nation at your beck and call. Genius. Can't wait to see where the B-Listers tramp off to.
2006-Jun-13 - Untitled Comment Posted by Anonymous
didnt they just come back - jesus, the guy's a fast writer. brangelica captilizes on the media, and now he's capitilizing on them. it's one big happy circle.
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2006-Jun-13 - You gotta point, Anon
Posted by KYJoe
It's true that the various activities of celebs engender gobs of jobs for journalists, photographers, souvenir T-shirt hawkers.
It's similar to the human body supporting umpteen thousand critters: dust mites, bacteria, those snake-like insects that crawl around in your eyelashes...
I wonder what the paparazzi are in that analogy.
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2006-Jun-13 - Mutual Reach-Arounds
Posted by BlogMaster
It's true, it's the way it works. Stray filthy dogs fouling your streets and Animal Control is under-funded? Paint advertising on their emaciated bodies. No one coming to your third-world paradise? Get on your knees and bow to the Celedieties and watch tourist numbers spike. God, I love it!
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2006-Jun-13 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
"Paint advertising on their emaciated bodies..." that visual is just too much for me. considering the neighborhoods that would have stray dogs as such, what would you advertise? Joe's Crackhouse?
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2006-Jun-13 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
"... those snake-like insects that crawl around in your eyelashes... " dude, seriously, do we really need such gory analogies??? i never knew there were such things. now i'm all paranoid about it. jeez.
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2006-Jun-13 - Sorry to be so graphic, Anon
Posted by KYJoe
I was a biology major in college. Got to use that knowledge for something (of course I can't remember the actual names of those creatures- but they're there- harmless critters though).
