The Anthropology of Celebrity: An Examination of Social Prestige in Popular Culture

Have you ever met or caught a fleeting glimpse of a famous person? Or, have you ever fantasized what it would be like to be in the company of a celebrity? What would you say? How would you behave? What would they think of you in turn? Even if you've never encountered anyone who is well known, you have, no doubt, met members of your own community who are held in high regard. Perhaps the town mayor, a religious leader, or local entertainer. When you see this person, your posture improves, your face lights up with a smile, you hope to make eye contact and possibly start up a conversation. We enjoy being in the presence of and associating with prestigious people. It makes us feel good! But why is this? How do these types of interactions benefit us? Or them, for that matter? The Anthropology of Celebrity explores our cultural need to include people of higher status in our day-to-day lives, even though we may only see them via television, films, and social media. The stories and observations in this book are told from an LGBTQ oriented perspective.