Even though I agree with everyone that this piece has strong themes about society/class/family, I believe a deeper interpretation can be found elaborating on the concept of "celebrity." Sankaran's story disturbs me because she makes me think about celebrity, America, and my students in a new way.
Examples of celebrity litter the text. Beyond the obvious red carpet reference which Maydum refuses to acknowledge as part of who she is, there is Raju's naming his daughter after a Bollywood star, and the worshiping "peasants," from the kitchen to the grounds, who adore Maydum for what they perceive as her celebrity stature. The opulence in which she lives also promotes this concept. But beyond the list of evidence, Maydum reacts like a modern celebrity. She lives in a world protected from the forces which alter and change Raju. Therefore she can play her part and then just as quickly revert back to her Paris-Hilton-party-mode and forget Raju, his family, and their situation.
I fear this same commiditization of celebrity is happening to many of you. Your online profiles promote an atmosphere of celebrity to others, and even you status as seniors make you celebrities to underclassmen who see you as models for how to create themselves, just as Raju sees Maydum as a model for his daughter.
So what are your thoughts on the concept of celebrity? Do you agree with my analogy? Post your ideas here.
12 comments:
Well i guess i somewhat have to agree. Maydum does act like a celbrity in that she knows she has duty but as soon as she done for the day like an actor or singer is done their performance they cna party with no consquence. But even their partying realtes to howthey are as celebrites.All the time they are being watched and they use that as a kind of power. And i can see how the students as in myself and others have a kind of fame. When we have certain prvililges that others don't have we tend to use them to the fullest without the consquence like a celebrity. We expect underclassman to treat us with respect and we also expect as example for them to move out of our way. So i guess sin a way it could be seen as the senior class the celebrity's of the school.
Celebrity make people feel inferior to those of higher status. The "peasants" or "middle class" are trapped below the famous. They can only observe them from afar because security and popularity keep the "average" person away. Celebrities don't seem to hang out with non-celebrities because of social status. It seems stange to see a celebrity with someone unkown to the press. I do agree with the analogy that we are celebrity ourselves because of our senior status. It is all about higher status. In a household, we are inferior to our parents; they are the "celebrity" of the home. Each superiro in a community could be considered celebrity because they cause an imbalance of power in their favor. We as seniors are viewed as "role models" for the underclassmen because we have been at MVU the longest, we are the oldest, and we have the most responsibility.
Though celebrities are admired, they cause that imbalance, creating an unequal environment. In "The Red Carpet", Maydum is able to party and act as she pleases; however, Raju had to act in a respectful, polite manner. He has to respect Maydum because of her higher status, her celebrity.
I like your analogy of celebrity in the red carpet. I'm not sure I agree with it all but it give new meaning to the story for me.
I think that Maydum should be a example for our senior class. How she went above her higher statues and actualy took interest in someone of so called lower statues. By giving to Raja daughter all the clothing she did not use and then helping him pay for her school so that she could get a good education which was really important to Raju. Then there is the side of her where I feel that most (not all but most) of the senior class falls under which is the partying side of Maydum. We tend to get in our clicks and think we are the most amazing gifts to this earth and everyone should look up to us, like when Maydum sees her friend gets out of the car and forgets all about Raju. When we should take a good hard look at ourselves and see that some of us are not making the type of choices that make good role models.
I think the celebrities should do the same thing. I think they need to take a look at the messages that they are sending the younger generation. By the way they dress or act in life or in the movies that they make. I also think some have a hard life, with the media not allowing them to have privace in some areas that they deserve to have. Some might not act the way they do if they were not so pressured into things by there fans or media either.
We are all human and equal in my eyes. We need to stop caring about what others think and start caring about each other.
Hah. A great analogy that is neither too complex to understand nor too simple for the average eye to catch. I am inclined to agree. Raju is the epitome of the lower classmen. When he beings to work for Maydum, however, he seems to, in a sense, see himself in a higher light. As if working for a *celebrity* has somehow raised his own status. As has been said, the characters act as what we would call "typical celebrity behavior". It is definitely one of the possible interpretations of the text, but by no means the definitive one. On another hand, while I do see your suggestion of people trying to *cyber celebrities* and agree with it to a point. It, however, is much more shallow than you gave it credit for. All it is is kids trying to play god. Acting as if they are above everyone else in order to achieve a moment of self-worth unobtainable elsewhere. I find it hard to believe there are any other motives besides what I have suggested.
I do agree with your analogy. You see everyday in the media of how at one moment celeberitys are playing the part of a good role model but then in the same instant you see them being out being reckless drinking, driving, and doing drugs. Like actors and singers. They know they have to be good role models for there fans but as soon as they are done for the day they dead out to the party seen and forget that fans can still see what they are doing.
Maydum is a lot like a celeberty she plays the part for Raju but as soon as she is not around him she forgets about his situation and goes about her life.
As seniors i think we expect a lot of respect from underclassmen and for them to look at as us as more superior than them but at the same time we are here as role models for the underclassmen. In sports or any kind of club we are looked up to because we have the expericence that they lack and that is what makes them look up to us for advice and guidence but in the end as a senior i know that to get respect you have to earn and i demanding respect or to look superior to underclassmen you need to show them respect but being olde rwe are the celeberties of the school because we have been here the longest (other than the teachers) and we know thw rules and how the system works and every underclassmen will have the cahnce to be the celeberties of the school one day.
I still believe that the story closly resembles the story line of Gilmore Girls, and that the main charater chooses to have the regualr life and not follow the life of her mother whom is envyed by everyone in the neighborhood, because of the class and "richness" in which she presents herself as. In red carpet she understands that people respect her as a celebrity, however when no one is looking she wants to be herself. To kind of go on to what Lacie has posted it is almost like us and underclassmen. We are expected to be "Gods" of the hallway and not talk to underclassmen beacuse they are below us. However if you talk to anyone in the Senior class we all have a underclassmen buddy, but the sterotype is still there, and will alway be there because someone will tell some poor seventh grader and the cycle will continue.
I agree with the analogy. Maydum is very celebrity-like with her new richness. She lives in a marvelous home, has her own driver (Raju), and has dazzling clothes and possesions. She acts like a celebrity with her riches and rebels against her mother-in-law. She wears inappropriate clothing and goes out and does whatever she wants with her friends. She does have some good qualities though when she gives some of her clothes to Raju's family. She also visits his family and offers to pay for his daughter's schooling. Raju looks up to her and therefore he is inferior to her beyond the fact that he works for her.
This idea is in everyday life as teenagers copy or follow the examples set by celebrities or "upperclassmen."
I see the connection to celebrities and fame. America is a very materialistic country as a whole, unlike other countries and cultures like the one we read about in the Red Carpet. Maydum acts as if she is a celebrity, and it is in her history to achieve fame. Although she almost trys to rebel against it however, she always falls back to her fate-which is to be "supieror" to others below her status wise.
the thought of "celebritism" (made up word) in my mind is just that of course everyone wants to be like that. you could wear on thing and be the only one to wear it for 5 yaears and the second a celeb is wearing it... everyone has to have it... same with speech... and the same with hair. People have always had feathered hair... but now cause zach effron or whatever just happens to have his hair like that... its a fashion statement.people just always see celebs in the limelight and when they see all the attention the average joe wants a piece. it always makes me laugh when my mom reads people or star magazine and reads up about how someone is splitting up or hooking up or getting pregnant. that stuff happens all the time in everyday life but now because it is happeneing to someone famous it actually maters. i personaly hate the though tof being celebritized but in the end even i can say it would be cool to have my picture or an article about me in aworldwide magazine.
what really gets me going is the "goths"... they say they dont want to be like everyone else and not conform and not try to stick out by being the same. but they are conforming and they are the ones sticking out more cause they are dressed like freaks.
celebritism...i say lets petition to make it a word
Celebrity can only be achieved if enough people are willing to look up to you; generally due to an outstanding accomplishment or just due to riches, which many Americans long for. Celebrity is overly abused in America. We are all people and even celebrities make mistakes; they are generally mocked and laughed at for things that happen to people every day. Maydum is a celebrity due to her riches; she is able to go to the rich parties and do whatever she wants. As some celebrities do, i find that being a "celebrity" is a chance to give back and help others as many have helped you to achieve your "celebrity" and make you well off.
As for the analogy to seniors. Many underclassmen look up to us because of our experience and/or talent. Whether it is achedemics or athletics our senior year is a year to give back. Just as many cultures look up to the elders for their experience, many underclassmen look up to seniors. We need to pass on what we have learned and help others along their journey of life.
I agree with the analog, Maydum would very much be considered as “celebrity” status. She is out going to fancy parties and socializing with friends and then she helping out the people that are less fortunate than herself. You see and hear about that a lot these days. But the bad tends to overshadow the good. You do not nearly as much hear about all the good celebrities do. You hear about who was caught with this drug or who is in rehab now. What I think people tend forget is that they are humans too, they make mistakes, they get caught up in the world around them. They get ridiculed for things that happen to people around the world on a daily basis.
As for seniors we expect the underclassmen to look up to us and respect us just as we did when we were in there position.
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