It is easy to be pessimistic in speaking about where teenagers take their inspiration from nowadays, but it is at least as easy to point out gaping holes in this line of argumentation. From teachers to parents to concerned columnists, the common complaint is that something new is being developed in terms of young people looking to celebrities for guidance on how to find their own way in life. Exposure of teenagers to this media obsession is so heavy and their malleability as consumers so large that constant stories about star singers, Hollywood actors and reality show participants have a lasting impact on their perspectives on just about any meaningful issue. In fact, as their argument seems to go, high-profile individuals that make it to the headlines on a regular basis, the likes of Britney Spears or Agnes Monica, have turned into actual role models for a growing section of the population. To make matters worse, in absence of solid authorities in family life or at schools, their impact on life choices and attitudes of the youth is being quickly solidified, practically unchallenged
Calling these assertions a load of rubbish may be too harsh, but
there is no denying their foundations are weak and most conclusions miss the
point rather wide. First, accepting the fact that celebrities as the only role
models left would mean that we are OK with the collapse of the entire social
structure that supplies good practice examples in every sphere of life.
Inspiring individuals have not died out as a species, even if for some people
the generation of today's septuagenarians and those older embodies values and
virtues that are being wiped off the face of the earth as they slowly pass
away. However, in difference ways, younger vintages of honorable, resilient and
talented people set high standards in a number of spheres, from literature to
science. Despite plenty of whinging, I do not recall one year when they
declined to give out the Nobel Prize or hundreds of other high-powered
accolades for people of considerable substance and stature due to lack of
noteworthy material.
Another misguided belief plenty of critics seem to subscribe to is
that youngsters are uncritical about celebrity gossip. In fact, there might be
a much more complex relationship between their fascination with fame and
fortune than many want to admit. For one thing, it may not be so strong as some
arguments assert and teenagers just grow out of things as soon as they stop
being appealing. Suddenly, one day, what they talk about via their webcam
messaging system is no longer the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars or
some other virtual reality problems, but issues of substance. I remember
collecting newspaper clippings as a kid about action movie actors and my
parents showed concern due to levels of violence in this sort of entertainment
and dominant values they propagated, but this childish obsession went away as
time passed. Expect the same as your children become larger than celebrities
they look up to.
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