
But Britney is not the only one. Celebrity breakdowns are nothing new. Mariah Carey, Mel Gibson, Johnny Cash, Anna Nicole Smith, and Courtney Love are only a handful of celebrities who have hit rock bottom.
In reality, the term “nervous breakdown” has no medical basis, but is used by the public to encompass a wide range of mental disorders. The phrase is generally used to describe an emotionally distraught individual who is unable to function normally. Symptoms may include uncontrollable crying, erratic behavior, and indecision, among others. Some breakdown triggers are stress and drug and alcohol use.
Stress and substance abuse are probably the two most frequently cited explanations for celebrity breakdowns. The first obvious question is why breakdowns are so common in Hollywood. While under constant pressure to perform, look perfect, and sell product, stars are perpetually provided with and have easy access to drugs and alcohol. This environment creates a Russian roulette-type of situation where something is eventually bound to go wrong. When it does, paparazzi cameras are standing by waiting to snap a high-priced photograph of a fallen star.
The

If these breakdowns are so common amongst celebrities because of their high-intensity environments, the next logical question would ponder the environments themselves. If consumers did not scrutinize famous people with such fervor, would the entertainment industry place such a high value on celebrities’ images, which in turn places the celebrities themselves under unhealthy amounts of stress? The answer can only be speculative.
The public’s thirst for all things celebrity has led the mass media to address the demand for such information through magazines, blogs such as perez-hilton.com, and television shows. This has created a cycle in which the more we see,

The idea that we the public perpetuate the cycle of celebrity exposure and infatuation, placing pressure on the famous and possibly (however indirectly) leading to a future breakdown is an uncomfortable thought for most. Instead of acknowledging the fact that without an eager consumer market, the very institutions which place celebrities under pressure would cease to exist, the general public ignorantly places all blame on the media. However, if we as a public would like to see the amount of celebrity breakdowns reduced, we need to stop caring so much in the first place.
Britney Spears’ life is in chaos. The VMA performance proves that. But instead of harpooning the media—or worse, laughing at her—we must stand by the fallen pop star and realize that our adoration is what eventually put her there.
2 comments:
The topic that you chose to write on tells a lot about our society as a whole. I agree with your point that the public has too much interest vested in personal lives of famous individuals but whether or not this is the catalyst for their breakdowns I am not so sure about. I think a reason for their breakdowns could be the pedestal on which we place famous people in our society. Your comment about easy drug and alcohol access is definitely true. I think that celebrities are not used to hearing the words no and we as a culture are so enamored by them that we allow them to get away with any behavior no matter how erratic it may seem. I think Hollywood has gotten in a habit of rewarding bad behavior and maybe if there were some consequences the number of breakdowns may lower. I really liked the pictures and layout of your post and I think it was written in a very interesting and thoughtful way.
Hi there friends, how is all, and what you wish for to say concerning this post, in my view its actually awesome for me.
Post a Comment