Disclaimer: I'm about to say some things that may seem not very nice about a person. I really don't intend to libel him or judge him in any way. I'm struggling for ways to make commentary and criticism about American fascination with celebrity without either feeding it or using those people to make points. That's not what people are for. People are not to be used for me or anyone else to use as examples to further our aims. But part of the problem with the celebrity craze is that we are somehow able to think of these people as not real people. It's more like we're discussing characters in a TV show than real people. But we're not. K-Fed, clownish though he may be, is a person as much as I am and one that God cares about more than I could know. So please take these comments in the context of my broader discussion about Art and a return to the real American narrative as the future and hope for our artistic voice in the future. So please bear with me as I start to stumble through this topic, and forgive me if I step over any lines. Okay, here goes:
This is just pathetic. I mentioned him yesterday, but apparently, Kevin Federline-Spears thinks he's a rapper. Now I've heard some pathetic crap before, but this is really a new low. Just listen for yourself.
Of course, the irony is that the name of the track is "America's Most Hated." It's amusing because it's not far off. It's ironic because he clearly thinks people hate him because he's from California, he's white, he's rich, he's good-looking, and other laughable fallacies. I think the whole seed-scattering, cheating, pregnant-girlfriend-abandoning routine might be closer to the truth of his negative perception in society. Not to mention his oh-so noble crusade to Save the Penny, where he said, (and I quote), "“We'’re bringing power back to the penny. Man, I feel good about the penny!"
Now, I know it's not exactly my style to spend a whole post ragging on a vapid pseudo-celebrity. In fact, I'm admittedly a little bit uncomfortable with treating him this way. But I'm not sure how else to address the American monster of celebrity. And that's just my point: Why in the world would we possibly care about following the exploits of K-Fed? What is our sick obsession with celebrity? This may be the best evidence yet to bolster my thesis that we mix art and celebrity to our own detriment. We cannot trust that a well-funded and slick marketing campaign behind any singer or other "artist" actually means there is a product behind it worth paying any attention to. Can we honestly classify this kaka as music, let alone art?
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10 Cachinnations
It's not music. It's not art by a long shot. It's pure celebrity hype. How do you think Paris Hilton got a recording contract? ...the same way K-Fed did. Big names, big money. That's what gets you on the radio nowadays.
Posted on 9/05/2006
On a separate but connected thought, I think it's interesting that we apparently don't get enough entertainment from the movies/music that artists produce that we feel that we've got to turn their own personal lives into mini-dramas and follow them as well. I was looking at the magazines at the grocery store check-out line the other day, and they were covered with the Jen-Brad-Angelina saga saying that Brad was thinking about going back to Jen. I thought, "Now, you guys are just making stuff up. You don't know what another person is thinking anymore than I do. This is out of control. Why do magazines and publicists have to turn actors' lives and the lives of those around them into a story-line worthy of one of their movies? It's as if they're not allowed to stop entertaining us but have to do it on and off screen b/c surely every aspect of their lives must be as interesting (as thus exploitable) as their movies."
Posted on 9/05/2006
You're just saying this to divert attention from the fact you bought his album the day it came out and you started your own chapter of the K-Fed fan club. I'm on to you.
Posted on 9/05/2006
Ditto to sarah!!!
How many times can I say AMEN BRUTHA!?
Posted on 9/05/2006
I think you're just jealous that Dane Cook got to be on stage with him and you didn't. If only your comedic genius would be realized, you could have been on stage with not only K-Fed, but also with the likes of Jessica Simpson, another foolish albeit somewhat talented "celebrity" who is far more famous for her big boobs, lack of speaking abilities, controlling father, and hunky ex-husband.
And that's what I think about that.
Posted on 9/05/2006
Grant Miller's on to me...
Curse you, Grant Miller!
Posted on 9/05/2006
I was hoping to get the day off due to the release of the first pictures of baby Suri!!! I think it should be declared a national holiday!
I mean how are we supposed to concentrate on eeking out a living while a gazillionaires daughter is finally being exposed to the public? Especially since people don't have babies everyday, except K-Fed of course.
Posted on 9/06/2006
I love this post!
I'm with Badoozer about the poopin' and wipin'. I also have to say this - people are obsessed with gossip. Everyone wants to know something iky about someone else - it's entertaining for some reason. Or I guess we just want to know that someone else just may be worse (or worse off) than we are. People feed off of it.
How often do we turn a deaf ear when someone begins to tell something juicy? How many of us pick up those magazines Meg spoke about while at the checkout?
We should try to spend one day without speaking about another person AND not listening to someone speak about another person. Or spreading any kind of "news" for that matter. Unless maybe we have something kind to say.
Posted on 9/06/2006
Okay, I don't know what happened when I posted my comment. But, I'm the anonymous person. I think it's a sign that I need to get to bed.
Posted on 9/06/2006
I agree with anonymous anne. The reason that all of the mags, shows, media, hoohaw is centered on these celebrities is because the public shows an interest in it, and it sells the advertising. If people would quit buying the schlock that is being written, they would stop writing it. But, the people continue to buy, and the schlocksters continue to produce, and that is the laissez faire system at work. Now, in a proper fascist form of government we could stop these printers from printing this crapola and .... oh, wait a minute, that didn't work in Nazi Germany, did it? My bad.
And what's a baby Suri, anyway?
Posted on 9/06/2006