Fame

            In class we discussed Andy Warhol’s quote, “In the future, everyone will get 15 minutes of fame”.  When I think about this quote I think that in this day in age with advanced technologies and media, it is easier for people to gain fame.  With reality shows people can become famous just for living their normal lives but allowing it to be put on television.  For example, on the show “Teen Mom” young mothers are documented raising their children and living their lives.  They are not much different from the many other parents in the world, but since they have their lives filmed and put on television the teenage mothers have become “famous”.  Also, new media forms such as YouTube allow people to easily achieve fame.  Some people make videos of new songs or videos that are simply funny and suddenly become famous.  Therefore, I think by stating this quote, Warhol was stating that with developing technologies and media forms people will have easier access to fame.  However, by saying that people will get “15 minutes” of it is also an important aspect to the quote.  I think he is saying that people who receive fame typically do not stay famous forever.  For example, a few years ago Paris Hilton was on top of the world.  She was on the cover of every magazine and always in the media spotlight.  Although she is still famous she is not nearly in the press as much as she was a few years ago.  It seems to me that most celebrities do not stay famous forever but for only a period of time until another, new celebrity comes along.