Fame Monsters

The American Dream has been swallowed up by the fame monster.

As a cultural whole, we have made a definitive decision to switch from wholesome ideals to chasing dreams of the stage and screen.

Americans have gradually been shifting toward the pursuit of fame for years now.  

Our journey began as the kids from “Fame” charmed us into the idea of living forever. We gained speed as everyday folk made their way to glory by belting out yesterday’s hits on “American Idol.”

Now, our journey has reached a dangerous pinnacle.

Our perception of the American Dream has undoubtedly changed during the last few years.

Killing a bear after driving a wagon train cross-country was replaced by making a life in the bustling city environment, which was again replaced by moving to the suburbs and creating the perfect nuclear family.

It’s only natural that our aspirations change as our technology and general culture mature.  But this dream is poisonous.

The most recent example of this parasitic ideal is the drama surrounding TLC’s “Toddlers and Tiaras,” which is blowing up the blogosphere and magazines nationwide.  

If the buzz about this show has passed you by, here’s a general overview: little tykes (or stage parents) want to be famous so much that they sacrifice any and all morality to parade around on stage in hopes of climbing the ranks of stardom.  

The “poison” comes in when three-year-old girls are showing an amount of skin equivalent to that of a call girl.Parents on the show are often guiltier of pursuing this warped dream than the children.  

The season finale proved just how attune parents are to the cameras hovering over them as one mother hissed to her child: “We are on camera. Don’t you dare tell me ‘no’ one more time. Do you hear me? We are on national TV. Everybody’s going to see this.”

Clearly, as we age we become more desperate in our strategies to stand in the spotlight. We desire fame so much that we are willing to shred a child’s psyche with all of this exposure to sex and cattiness. Children have become disposable; we sacrifice them to the fame monster.

Individuals of all different certified and uncertified backgrounds have spoken on the issue — there is a new post about “Toddlers and Tiaras” everyday.

The series has been called “a cultural car wreck,” among other various harsh truths.  
We see the disgust in “Toddlers and Tiaras,” and yet the show is in its fourth season.  Similarly, “Dance Moms” is a copycat series that was approved to air on Lifetime.  

If all of this is so disgusting, why is it allowed to continue? Clearly the combination of glitter and lights can be blinding.

So how can we save ourselves?  Are we too far into the monster’s lair to run out now?  

The key is to sever the infected section and focus on saving what we can. For many, their eyes are on the prize and there is no swaying them now. They will have to be left behind. Future generations of parents must focus on balancing out their children’s dreams of stardom with grounded desires as well.  

Dreams don’t have to be killed; they simply have to be put into context. It needs to be stressed that a more traditional career path may save your body and soul more than fame.  

Start showing children before and after shots of Lindsay Lohan — maybe that will get the point across.We need to reprogram our culture to accept that fame can only be achieved by a low number of people. That’s why it’s special.  

Andy Warhol said we would all get our fifteen minutes. Why can’t we be happy with that?

— sjostrow@indiana.edu