Osler's Razor

I have always felt that our celebrities in the US were like the royals overseas, we need the flashy excess, but prefer it separate from actual politics. Well, unless it is scandalous, we do seem to like some scandal in both arenas.
 

Bread and Circuses. It goes back to ancient Greek and Roman times. Clearly politics is more important. But politicians LOVE to have celebrities around to take the spotlight away.
 

When celebrities gain access to armies and nukes, they will be of equal importance.
 

Lane -- the have them. Haven't you seen the cutting documentary "Team America"? Matt Damon and his cronies are working in concert with Kim Jong Il...
 

I don't care who Angelina Jolie is dating (unless it is me), or who the father of Britney's baby is (unless it is me), or whether such and such actor is gay or not.

At the same time, I don't care who Bill Clinton is dating, or who Mark Sanford is sleeping with, or whether such and such senator is gay.

I think the issues that are consistently attached to celebrity culture, and which also find their way into American politics, are stupid and meaningless.

However, I also think that when we start dismissing celebrities we forget what makes them famous. Many of them matter a great deal. They are writers, or musicians, or actors, and many times the movies, books, or music that they make has just as much of an impact on society and culture as politicians do. Culture matters. Art is important. And while I think Spencer and Heidi from the Hills don't matter at all, I do think that the music made by some bands (I would use Radiohead as a modern example) does in fact matter in the context of our larger existence as a society and a culture.

I bet you know who Mozart is, but I bet you can't tell me the name of the Austrian empress he played in front of when he was a little child? And I would certainly bet that you can't tell me one thing that she ever did policy wise?

I'm sure you know who Beethoven is, but can you tell me who the king of Germany was between 1790 and 1806 when he was was at the height of his creative powers?

Also, just in the context of your daily life, do books, your ipod, movies, and tv shows effect you more than politics? I bet they do.

Anyways, I'm going to go get on the road now and celebrate freedom while I still have some. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!!!!!
 

Mark Sanford is the perfect union of our political and celebrity culture. It's a beautiful thing.
 

Maria Theresa. Everyone knows that.
 

What's the difference?
 

Ugh.
 

RRL: brilliant.
 

RRL - I think Germany was divided into 3 parts around the time of Beethoven's brillance. But there was a bigwig in Prussia named Fredrick Wilhelm or Wilhelm Fredrick during that time frame.

Your conclusions were well put. There are a few celebs that legitimately cross over due to their global philanthropy: Bono leads this list.