Observing the lives of celebrities and "normal" people who become celebrities through reality shows has become a heightened interest of mainstream. In these observations we sit back to watch our celebrity of choice party in the most popular night clubs, drink excessively, some practice drug use, and possibly whirl down a spiral tunnel.
Such actions are in a sense glorified because of the attention they gain. This attention assists the celebrities in maintaining their lavish lifestyles and keeps the ratings of network television among the highest. Is this what society has become?
These actions were once kept secret and not discussed within family, much less to be shared with any community. So to have these demons exposed in the form of entertainment has many baffled. Does this entertainment show any weakness in our nation and society as a whole?
Viewing the rise, fall, and rebirth of celebrities such as Lindsey Lohan, Whitney Houston, and the latest uproar of Charlie Sheen has overshadowed the headlines of Libya, national politics, and the community hero.
Watching Sheen being interviewed by Pier Morgan further proves the thought that we as a society thrives on seeing the "explanations" of the addicts we love. Twitter participants flooded their thoughts of how Charlie has removed himself from the positive eye while maintaining the spotlight. Nevertheless, these actions have been no different from the celebrities prior to him and his most recent situation.
When contemplating this article, I found myself watching Celebrity Rehab, a reality show that focuses on the rehabilitation of celebrities who have sought the assistance of Dr. Drew Pinsky to become sober. In the show, approximately eight celebrities live in a rehabilitation center in California to fight various addictions and receive therapy for insecurities and pain that are the causes of addiction. In the television show, Dr. Drew attempts to depict both negative and positive levels of becoming sober.
When watching the show, my hope is the reason for the show is to educate the public about the effects of addiction on the addict and their loved ones. In addition, using people who are celebrities and familiar to many, my hope is that the portrayal is to show addiction can be the ruler of any person with no regard to culture, race, or background. With these participants volunteering to have their lives showcased in a different light, the positive concept would be to expose the reasons to stay sober...and not to gain more popularity and money.
Choosing to continue to entertain our minds with other's addictions has become an addiction of society. Living vicariously through the lives of others or simply just to be entertained by a world that most of us will never experience, whatever the reason it has switched the focus of society filling the entertainment blogs, social and television networks. This fog has covered most positives and some of the world issues.
Is society able to change this "addiction of society" into a learning experience for what not to do through education and exposure for all the right reasons?
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