Sociologist Erving Goffman used the analogy of the theater as a way to describe social interaction with all its different roles and scenes. 'Performing' was a term he used to describe the social displays people used in different situations as they went about daily life.

If life is a performance, then actors should have an advantage and be able to cope and adapt at the highest level by employing the skills they use every day. Being someone else is what they do, and being under direction means they become a vehicle for a character that requires the study of particular social and personal behaviour. They are aware and should be able to cope with the demands of fame, and can enjoy all the riches that follow. It's a great life. Or is it?

Fame, Fortune, and Creativity

A talent for performance and creativity might be the way to success, but then fame and the pressures that surround it come into play. Problems seem to appear as the sometimes surreal and commercial world of fame meets the creative one.

You're that guy...

Fame is just a public identity, but real people can get locked-in behind it all. Some can cope and are happy with public perception and grateful for the exposure. Others don't want to perpetuate the myths and legends that rapidly leaves 'the real them' behind as money and media take over. Many performers don't want to be anchored to the past as they develop their own creative skills and attempt to move on, but fame can sometimes stifle creativity and even wreck careers. In some ways, fame is responsible for typecasting a person or what they do, and progression or reinvention can become difficult.

The fame game

Coping with fame definitely needs to include detachment or it can be destructive, as sometimes shown by the emotional and desperate responses of those thrown into it. The less experienced or those who are more emotionally sensitive can find it hard to step back and detach, and often burn out under the pressure of trying to actually live in the false reality of fame.

Those that fare better can separate fame from the creative process, and consciously resign themselves to the consequences, however frustrating this may be. Fame is a skill in itself in modern times, which has been proven by those with little creativity. Some still manage to become household names (or 'celebrities') by understanding and manipulating the fame aspect only.

Intrusion and the big reveal...

For others, fame or success signals the end of something. A creative journey made under your own steam can be stimulating and very rewarding as personal goals are achieved and talent develops and matures, but conflict can arise if fame and intrusion begin to impede creativity and invades personal life, or erodes things over extended periods.

Disappointment and disillusion can also occur if a creative or personal plateau is reached. There's nothing left to explore creatively or the end results are not as expected. The only thing left standing is fame, and many are obliged to continue on as demanded by financial and commercial commitment - possibly the worst situation a creative person could find themselves in, or problematic for those who try to cling on to fame without any new creative output.

One time star, now a big hit with us...

Many famous entertainers and actors choose or plan to withdraw from public view and go into areas within the entertainment industry where fame is not such a factor. With the spotlight off, a change of image and attitude often becomes apparent.

Third party control and commercial expectation take a back seat as persona and creativity is reconnected, or new directions are taken.

A favourite toy may get stuck under the couch...

Creativity may be affected by fame, and control put out of reach, but one is a vital link to the other if exposure is the aim. If fame is fought against, the result can be a career that gets stuck or disappears.

It can be difficult to listen to actors, musicians, and celebrities as they complain about the very thing many people desperately strive for, but they do send a message to those who are waiting for that big break. If fame is seen as a primary goal and the means to a satisfying end, some may be in for disappointment and this is no secret.

This shared video playlist takes a look at some of these issues in an effort to understand the consequences of fame. Those living with fame talk about how it affects them emotionally and mentally, and the effects celebrity, wealth, and living life in public can have on a person's life. The psychology behind it all is fascinating and explored via related links.

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Matt Sheen MMXXI
mattsheen (at) webstar.tv

See playlist for references and shared by details

PLAY - Is being famous fun?

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