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Price of Publicity
In other words
publicity is public notice or attention. Many people dream of
being famous. They admire different celebrities whose
photographs are published on almost every page of many
newspapers and magazines, who appear in numerous talk shows and
act in different films. The mass media have created 'the cult of
celebrity'. Some actors, singers or musicians become famous not
because they are very talented but because there are a lot of
articles about them in the press and they constantly appear in
reality TV shows. But fame doesn't only mean expensive cars,
luxurious houses, crazy parties and everybody's admiration.
There is also the other side of the coin. Sometimes people have
to pay a high price for publicity.
A celebrity is a
person whose private life is discussed by journalists,
TV-viewers and newspaper and magazine readers. If you are a star
you can forget about privacy as everybody will interfere in your
life and pry into your affairs. The deepest secrets of your
family may become public property. Paparazzi follow famous
people around in order to take unflattering photographs of them
in their most intimate moments making it impossible for them to
have a private life. Newspapers and magazines publish unreliable
information and spread rumours. I don't think it's easy to work
and rest being constantly chased by journalists and
photographers.
The life of a
celebrity may be spoilt by fans who want to know everything
about their favourite star and to be with him or her. Fans get
celebrities' telephone numbers, wait for them after concerts,
send messages and love-letters to them and follow them
everywhere. There are some crazy people who threaten celebrities
and sometimes they put their threats into execution. Being
famous is very dangerous. For example, John Lennon, a famous
British singer and song-writer and a member of the Beatles, was
shot by a crazy man in New York City. That's why famous people
often have to disguise themselves and spend much money on
security. But sometimes even these measures don't help.
Everybody knows the sad story of Princess Diana's death whose
car was pursued by some paparazzi through Paris before the fatal
crash. The paparazzi took pictures of the wrecked car before any
of them called for help. They didn't stop taking photographs
even when the emergency services were on the scene and when the
bodies were removed.
The film
'Bodyguard' which was released in 1992 tells a story about a
famous and successful pop singer Rachel (Whitney Huston) who had
to hire a bodyguard Frank (Kevin Costner) after she had received
threatening letters. Her life was constantly in danger. Besides,
she was afraid for her little son and her life was full of fears
and apprehension.
Very often
celebrities get tired of their stressful lifestyle and feel
depressed. They begin smoking, drinking and taking drugs. These
are used as an escape or a temporary way of'switching
off — but they do not solve their problems. There are many
examples of famous people who died because of alcohol or drugs
such as Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin and many others.
So publicity
doesn't only lead to fame, success, admiration and richness. It
is also the reason of envy, jealousy, stress, extreme fatigue
and the impossibility to escape public attention. Many stars
would like to become common people at least for one day so that
not to be recognized in the streets.
1. Complete each sentence (A—H) with one of the endings
(1—8):
A. In other words publicity is
B. The mass media have created
С A celebrity is a person
D. Paparazzi follow famous people around in order to
E. Fans get celebrities' telephone numbers, wait for them after
concerts, send
F. Famous people often have to
G. Very often celebrities
H. Publicity is the reason of
1. whose private life is discussed by journalists, TV-viewers
and newspaper and magazine readers.
2. get tired of their stressful lifestyle and feel depressed.
3. public notice or attention.
4. disguise themselves and spend much money on security.
5. 'the cult of celebrity'.
6. take unflattering photographs of them in their most intimate
moments.
7. envy, jealousy, stress, extreme fatigue and the impossibility
to escape public attention.
8. messages and love-letters to them and follow them everywhere.
2. Give the definitions of the following words
• publicity • mass media • cult
• celebrity • paparazzi • fan
3. Answer the questions
1) What does 'the cult of celebrity' mean?
2) Why do many celebrities have to forget about privacy?
3) Why is being famous dangerous?
4) What other risks do celebrities run?
5) What can famous people do to avoid possible dangers?
6) How does publicity influence a person's character?
7) What do you think about paparazzi?
8) Do you know any famous people who suffered from paparazzi or
their fans/began drinking or taking drugs because of their
stressful lifestyle/were deceived by their producers/were put
into prison/committed suicide/sacrificed their career for their
family?
9) Why do/don't you want to be famous?
10) What can you say about the life of a typical celebrity?
4. Fill in the table
Fame and Public Attention
For
1.
Famous people are allowed to take liberties, to have their own
style or opinion.
2.
............
Against
1. A famous person sees the world as a battle; rivalry, envy and jealousy
are his or her principal emotions.
2.............
5. Read the quotations below. Choose any statement and comment
on it
• 'In the world of the celebrity, the hierarchy of publicity has
replaced the hierarchy of descent and even of great wealth.' (C.
Wright Mills)
• 'Publicity is like poison; it doesn't hurt unless you swallow
it.' (Joe Paterno)
• 'Fame always brings loneliness. Success is as ice cold and
lonely as the North Pole.' (Vicki Байт)
• Fame is a very confusing thing, because you are recognized by
a lot of people that you've never seen before, and they're at a
great advantage.' (Scott Hamilton)
• 'Fame means millions of people have the wrong idea of who you
are.' (Erica Jong)
• 'A celebrity is someone who works hard all his life to be
known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.' (Fred
Alan)
• 'Publicity can be terrible. But only if you don't have any.'
(Jane Russell)
Read what some stars say. What is the price of publicity for
them?
Michael Jackson:
'It's a complete lie, why do people buy these papers? It's
not the truth I'm here to say. You know, don't judge a person,
do not pass judgement, unless you have talked to them one on
one. I don't care what the story is, do not judge them because
it is a lie.
John Lennon:
'The postman wants an autograph. The cab driver wants a
picture. The waitress wants a handshake. Everyone wants a piece
of you.'
Britney Spears:
I like meeting all my fans and signing autographs, although
it can all get a bit crazy. Yesterday, for example, a boy just
came over and planted a big kiss on my face! I was like, 'Hello
?'
Julia Roberts:
'I don't think I realized that the cost of fame is that it's
open season on every moment of your life.'
A.
What is it like to be famous to your mind? Do you think that you
would have fewer problems if you were rich and popular? Comment
on your answer.
B. Read the text 'Price of Publicity' and think if you still
dream of being famous.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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