This picture of Robin Williams and the quote "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it," was a favorite among Facebookers, Instagrammers, and Tweeters. I saw this post probably a hundred times in the first week following his death. People would follow this picture with their condolences and say how sad they were that he died and that he was one of their favorite actors, but did they really care that much about him before he died? That's the point I'm trying to make. People could care less about a celebrity or know absolutely nothing about them other than their participation in popular movies but as soon as they die everyone seems to feel obligated to pay their respects.
It's almost as if they are afraid that if they don't say something nice or act like they are deeply saddened by the passing, that the deceased will haunt them. Like Robin Williams would be offended if there weren't hundreds of posts in social media after his death. I'm pretty sure that wherever Paul Walker, Joan Rivers, and Robin Williams are, they couldn't care less about their popularity in the media anymore.
Because of the frequency of the Robin Williams posts during the week of August 11th, I became annoyed. Yes, I was sad too that such a seemingly happy man took his own life but I didn’t need the constant reminder! It had been 3 or 4 days and I’d be scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed and still every other post would be of that picture of Robin Williams and the quote that went along with it. I chose not to post when Mr. Williams died, I was shocked when I heard the news but didn’t feel the need to use the tragedy as an excuse to post something, nor did I want everyone who read my post to be instantly saddened and depressed by the news as I was when I would see the posts. If I were one of Robin Williams’ family members and I had to continue to be reminded, although it’s not like you can ever forget, I wouldn’t like the frequent posts either. A little over a year ago my little brother who was 11 at the time passed away unexpectedly due to an allergic reaction to some peanut butter he had accidentally eaten while at a friend’s house. It was devastating. Once all the funeral craziness was over, and all our family went back home then it was time for the real grieving to take place. I remember scrolling through Facebook in my down time and I would randomly come across a post by one of my family members about donating to the expenses or they’d be changing their profile picture to a picture of them with my little brother. When I would see these posts my heart felt like it fell into my stomach and immediately tears would fill my eyes. I can only imagine what family members of celebrities feel when they have to see their deceased loved one plastered on the front of every magazine or the topic of every news production or the subject of numerous people’s social media posts. This is something a lot of people don’t consider.
Another recent celebrity death was that of Paul Walker who died in a car accident at the beginning of the summer. Posts about him also blew up social media. Most of these posts, unlike Robin Williams, were of girls that were heartbroken because he was so hot and that’s why they were sad that he had died because now they could no longer fantasize about him without feeling that weird. What a lack of sensitivity. When I was looking for the picture that most people posted when he passed away which I’ve posted above, I found a disturbing picture posted by numerous websites. It’s a picture of what’s supposed to be Walker’s face although it’s hard to tell because there is a huge gash right in the middle of his face.
The photo is extremely gruesome and disturbing. How did these websites get the permission to post such a sensitive picture if it is in fact deceased Paul Walker. All I could think after seeing the picture was what if his young daughter saw it? And the chances are that she probably will. It breaks my heart that reporters and news stations and other websites could be so insensitive. It’s no one’s business to see those kinds of things except the family.
So why do we mourn these deaths the way that we do? Why do we feel the need to pay our respects to people that we’ve never met before? Jacque Lynn Foltyn, professor at National University of San Diego offers an explanation, “We care about these celebrity deaths because these people intersect with our personal biographies,” she continues by saying, “When these people die, we reflect on our own lives and we feel a sense of loss because they have been in our lives, many times, for decades and we followed…their maturing, we followed their successes (CBS News).” Foltyn states that most people know more about celebrities than they do about their own neighbors. Michael Jackson’s death was one that shook the nation.
His funeral was extravagant and artists such as Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, and Usher. America was glued to the TV screen to watch Michael Jackson’s funeral take place in Hollywood Hills. Jackson’s death was such a significant tragedy because his name was so well known and he was an icon for just about everyone. Larry Hackett, managing editor of People magazine says, “In the case of Michael Jackson…when you watch the videos of Motown dancing and the moon walking and all the music videos on MTV, you’re also replaying your own life (CBS).”
The reason why Americans are obsessed with celebrity lives is because they find ways to relate their own lives to the actors or actresses. When it comes to Michael Jackson, so many people were heartbroken when he passed away because they grew up listening to Jackson’s music and whenever they hear songs such as ‘Billie Jean’ or ‘Thriller’ it takes them back to when they first started listening to his music. Americans relate to these characters and because somewhat obsessed in thinking that these characters exist so when they pass away, they are emotionally attached.
References
Michael Jackson memorial service. (2014, September 12). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_memorial_service
Why We Mourn Intimate Strangers. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-we-mourn-intimate-strangers/
5 Robin Williams Quotes to Make You Smile - Intent Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://intentblog.com/5-robin-williams-quotes-to-make-you-smile/
Fast and Furious 7 Will Continue Without Paul Walker [Video]. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/fast-and-furious-7-will-continue-without-paul-walker-video/
Another recent celebrity death was that of Paul Walker who died in a car accident at the beginning of the summer. Posts about him also blew up social media. Most of these posts, unlike Robin Williams, were of girls that were heartbroken because he was so hot and that’s why they were sad that he had died because now they could no longer fantasize about him without feeling that weird. What a lack of sensitivity. When I was looking for the picture that most people posted when he passed away which I’ve posted above, I found a disturbing picture posted by numerous websites. It’s a picture of what’s supposed to be Walker’s face although it’s hard to tell because there is a huge gash right in the middle of his face.
The photo is extremely gruesome and disturbing. How did these websites get the permission to post such a sensitive picture if it is in fact deceased Paul Walker. All I could think after seeing the picture was what if his young daughter saw it? And the chances are that she probably will. It breaks my heart that reporters and news stations and other websites could be so insensitive. It’s no one’s business to see those kinds of things except the family.
So why do we mourn these deaths the way that we do? Why do we feel the need to pay our respects to people that we’ve never met before? Jacque Lynn Foltyn, professor at National University of San Diego offers an explanation, “We care about these celebrity deaths because these people intersect with our personal biographies,” she continues by saying, “When these people die, we reflect on our own lives and we feel a sense of loss because they have been in our lives, many times, for decades and we followed…their maturing, we followed their successes (CBS News).” Foltyn states that most people know more about celebrities than they do about their own neighbors. Michael Jackson’s death was one that shook the nation.
His funeral was extravagant and artists such as Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, and Usher. America was glued to the TV screen to watch Michael Jackson’s funeral take place in Hollywood Hills. Jackson’s death was such a significant tragedy because his name was so well known and he was an icon for just about everyone. Larry Hackett, managing editor of People magazine says, “In the case of Michael Jackson…when you watch the videos of Motown dancing and the moon walking and all the music videos on MTV, you’re also replaying your own life (CBS).”
The reason why Americans are obsessed with celebrity lives is because they find ways to relate their own lives to the actors or actresses. When it comes to Michael Jackson, so many people were heartbroken when he passed away because they grew up listening to Jackson’s music and whenever they hear songs such as ‘Billie Jean’ or ‘Thriller’ it takes them back to when they first started listening to his music. Americans relate to these characters and because somewhat obsessed in thinking that these characters exist so when they pass away, they are emotionally attached.
References
Michael Jackson memorial service. (2014, September 12). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_memorial_service
Why We Mourn Intimate Strangers. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-we-mourn-intimate-strangers/
5 Robin Williams Quotes to Make You Smile - Intent Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://intentblog.com/5-robin-williams-quotes-to-make-you-smile/
Fast and Furious 7 Will Continue Without Paul Walker [Video]. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/fast-and-furious-7-will-continue-without-paul-walker-video/
Paul Walker Face after died in fatal Car Crash. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://www.metatube.com/en/videos/211906/Paul-Walker-Face-after-died-in-fatal-Car-Crash/
MailOnline, L. (n.d.). Michael Jackson memorial: Singer's daughter Paris, 11, breaks down as she pays tribute to 'the best daddy ever' Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1198105/Michael-Jacksons-funeral-memorial-service-place-Staples-Center-Los-Angeles.html
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