Celebrity & Kim K.

In class today, we discussed what type of celebrity Kim Kardashian would be considered.  She is not quite an ascribed celebrity because although she was born into a privileged household, she was not necessarily born into fame.  She does not have any particular skill that considers her as an achieved celebrity.  And she is not really an attributed celebrity because her and her family has put effort into making themselves famous.  I personally consider her a celetoid, even though her “quick, burst of fame” has lasted for several years (and seasons) now.  The reason I consider her a celetoid is because I feel that her extreme fame, as well as the rest of her family’s fame, will eventually come to an end.  Other celebrities that do not quite fit in with the ascribed, achieved, or attributed status tend to not stay famous for a long time.  For example, several years ago Paris Hilton was one of the celebrities getting the most attention; however, like Kim K., she really did not fit into any of the three types of celebrity.  Although she does get some attention still today, she is not in the spotlight nearly as much as she used to be.  I think these types of celebrities like the Kardashians, Paris Hilton, or the cast of Jersey Shore, all have their bursts of fame, but their fame does not last as long as other celebrities who have actual skills like actors or singers.