What useful function do Celebrities play in modern society?

The decent ones give teenagers, and children someone to look up to. It gives them a Role Model, or an Idol for them to want to aspire to be like when they grow up. They're there to inspire people to want to be like them, and whether it's good or not, that's debatable, but they do inspire, something you can't say they don't do.

For example, I've always been big into Music/Drama, but since seeing Zac Efron on HSM, &&John Barrowman from Torchwood? These two are both my main idols, and I'd love to accomplish similar things as they have [be in a musical, a good tv show etc]. Again, whether this is a good thing is debatable, but it gives people something to look up to.

Also, it's somewhat entertaining. People LIKE to talk about other's lives, and for people who aren't socially popular, can talk about someone who's always in the public eye. Often, friends usually have similar tastes in Celebrities so it can be a good social point too.

Not to mention they make good eye candy for teenagers.

I don't really mind celebrities that have talent or are famous for doing something special.

I hate people that just have it given to them... yeah, that's right, I'm looking at you Paris Hilton

(I don't really like hearing from BB housemates after BB either... they fall into the latter category)

They give me someone to talk about

Celebrities or famous people who have done something worthy of being well known, there is nothing wrong with. They inspire others to want to do better in their own lives and I guess the world we live in today, we are a very celebrity-obsessed nation, they give us something to talk about.

The ones who are in the spotlight for nothing positive is another question.

Well I think this forum if you think about it revolvs around celebrities ( housemate ) and even if we don't want to admit it people know who they are so they are celebrities.

The original idea of celebrities and the way I always perceived them was simply as doing their job and having a profession in their own right, primarily as entertainers, i.e. being talented enough to act so we can watch plays/movies, or sing/make music so that we can listen to it, or even playing a sport so that it can be watched and supported. Alternatively, just as it takes skills to write a novel, be a lawyer or surgeon, or any other job, it was possible for some to develop their skills as actors or musicians.

However of course the word ‘celebrity’ is now associated with many other things. It’s one thing appreciating what someone does or their talent, but some adoring fans go to much larger extents, as they see celebrity figures rather like an escape route… blindly follow the lifestyle of a person you don’t even know and you can forget about any problems you may have of your own. The same goes for being emotionally attached to a film, for example.

Also, in today’s society, whilst it is becoming a lot easier for people to actually become celebrities, at the same time it’s becoming more and more difficult to sustain it. That would go for people who put in no effort to become something, but simply want to appeal to the tabloids, the press, and the limelight and in short – live the celebrity lifestyle. And whilst living the celebrity life has its pros, it does have its cons also and not every type of person can put up with it. So those who go off the rails in the public eye get even more unwanted attention.

But the media plays a huge part in why celebrities have the status they do, by going into their private lives which some may simply not want – perhaps they’re doing what they do because they really love it. The media too is doing its job, but the way they portray certain stars has a huge effect on what people think about them, as well as what we say and do, either generally or about them – more than we realise, I think.

These days it is becoming more common and the need is arising to distinguish between whom you would define as a ‘celebrity’ in the true sense, and who you would say is simply ‘well-known’.

None
they are a distraction from realities of life created by the media, a media controlled by a very very few people who are in bed with our "elected" leaders".

Raw meat for the balcony

Certain celebrities I respect - Jeff Bridges, Jim Carrey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dave Grohl, Denis Leary, Chris Rock. Many others I could mention - I respect these people because they do their job, do it well, and deserve their celebrity status.

But as for people like Chantelle Houghton, Nikki Graeme, Jade Goody, Chanelle Hayes - as far as I'm concerned, these people do not deserve to be celebrities, and I am at a loss to understand why people seem to almost worship them.

They give Heat & Daily Star somebody to talk about.

Umm, Paris has since worked hard for her celebrity status.

You know what Soph...... I used to slate Paris for her headlin grabbing ways, but what I was hoping for has happened. She has taken stock of what really matters and realised that you can over medierate yourself.

Since the big mass media attention of her going to and coming out of prison she hasnt really gone out of her way to be in the media and for that I respect her.

OK Soph, maybe she did.

Kiz, I forgot about that type of celebrity... the "I-will-do-anything-to-stay-to-stay-in-the-public-eye" type... they're the worst of all

Oh god... they are the worst, the ones that do nothing, at least Paris does work.... the simple life for example, yes she got it because of who she was but it ran through lots of series and its still work.

Its the celebs that do nothing that wind me up...... Jade Gobby for example!!! What on earth has this woman done? Oh sorry... i forgot, she did and exercise dvd.... no wait... she didnt loose weight via exercise she had it sucked out of her... so that doesnt count.

Hmmm what else has she done.......sorry cant think of anything else....

Its part of life i mean the celebrities have been around for decades but recently DUE T reality Tv we are seeing Wanna be celebs

I dislike the word celebrity i think of them as people with power.And i don't really mind them.

What use are celebreties!!! Well they entertain us one way or the other. Even if you dislike or even hate a celebrity they have done their job of stirring emotions and caused a reaction.

Most celebrities may well be of a fickle nature but love or hate they give us something to chew over..

In the case of BB celebrities it's a case of beauty is in the eyes of the beholder........Just because someone may hate a particular BB contestant does not make that celebrity any less deserving of being a celebrity.

You can only please some of the people some of the time you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

To help us look pretty silly little moon <3