Celebrating Life with Grief – The Talent of Deep Living
In his seminal work Stars, Richard Dyer appropriately argues that “talent is historically and culturally specific. Even if one simply meant talent as skill, one would have to ask, skill at what?” Stephen Jenkinson’s words on loving and living with grief are probably the least mentioned skills in celebrity culture. Yet, many heroic public personalities and fellow human beings achieve deep living and celebrate life through the wisdom of death that Jenkinson shares. I received Jenkinson’s knowledge of ‘Orphan Wisdom’ during my latest writing retreat near Kawartha Lakes in Ontario, Canada. ...
Read MoreCall for Presentations – Celebrity: Exploring Critical Issues 2013
Dear Celebrity Culture Readers: Writing from a sacred cottage near Kawartha Lakes, Ontario where I am taking pleasure in a research / writing retreat. I received the cottage as a gift from my beautiful friend Lynn Manwar during this Thanksgiving and we are spending a memorable week together. It reminds me of my recent writing retreat in Barcelona where the home was gifted as well and offers reassurance of precious moments coming our way. The week has been filled with inspiration to prepare new courses and lectures for celebrity studies in 2013. I am grateful for every moment spent and...
Read MoreWriting Fame: Defining the Celebrity
Dear Celebrity Culture Readers, Last week, I had the pleasure of being at the 13th Annual FILMI industrial party and film festival in Toronto. FILMI supports independent as well as mainstream film talent within and beyond standard frameworks of the entertainment industry. Questions on fame kept coming up in many conversations and industrial panel talks with friends and associates (below). There is no one single meaning of popular recognition, just like there is no one single kind of talent. Unique qualities of talent, however, play a key role in connecting with viewers and creating...
Read MoreCall for Papers: Revisiting Star Studies 2013
From the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association (MeCCSA) The Research Centre in Film & Digital Media at Newcastle University, UK, will host an international conference, Revisiting Star Studies, on June 12-14, 2013. Keynote speakers: Dr Stephanie Dennison (University of Leeds), Dr Neepa Majumdar (University of Pittsburgh), Prof Yingjin Zhang (University of California-San Diego). Dr Martin Shingler (University of Sunderland), co-editor of the recently-launched BFI Film Stars series, will also host a panel on this new project. Since its inception in the pioneering works of...
Read MoreReadings in Celebrity Studies
Dear Celebrity Culture Readers, Hope September is treating you well! My last posts mentioned the reason to read and write on celebrities and their fame, and how these learnings are related to celebrating ourselves. It is important to critically understand dominant meanings of fame and recognize ways in which we can restore talent and a creative spirit that we all carry. Often, recognition of talent leads to popularity but standard practices in popular culture shift attention away from the talent and unconditional love based on which every individual can be celebrated with passion. My next...
Read MoreCelebrating Ourselves Beyond the Crowd
My first weekend of August starts with an empowered thought shared by the Inspired Messenger and lovely friend, Bracha Malka Miller from New York and Toronto. The thought “celebrates individuality and embraces the idea that in order to live, we must not follow, but lead ourselves” – a strategic and inspired way to distinguish oneself in everyday life and mass culture. Click “Have the Courage to Walk Alone” for the complete post. For more thoughts, you can follow Inspired Messenger at https://www.facebook.com/brachamalkamillerfans?ref=stream More soon, Love,...
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