Thanks. I almost deleted that comment after I wrote it, though, thinking it kind of looks like I was fishing for more or less that response, which I wasn't, at least not consciously. /babble
Nah, it's all good. I'm really, really interested in how people interact with these topics because they were a huge topic and source of anxiety in my childhood; I've written before about my parents and the autograph book they gave me, and the embarrassing letters I wrote to celebrities when I was 12 -- and yet I'm still a fan, and also a pro, and someone who's pretty much uncomfortable in every community on either side of that equation. I'm always interested in what seems normal to people and why, mainly because I realize that on a lot of topics, I'm not sure there is a normal or that what I was told was normal was really, really not.
the embarrassing letters I wrote to celebrities when I was 12
Oh, I've sent embarrassing emails. Just not for anybody's birthday. And as an adult. *cringes*
Didn't as a kid, for some reason, except to presidents. At one point, I had autographed head shots and form letters of the "let's not discourage the eager kid from being a future voter" variety from Nixon, Ford, and Carter. I don't remember what I wrote to them, and I don't think I want to. Nixon's letter was probably written to him in crayon, and probably suggested by my parents. There's precocious, and there's ridiculous. Still write to politicos lots, but generally more along the lines of "please vote for/against xyz" or "stop being a moron" and less along the lines of "what's it like to be president?"
Huh. I wonder if that's why I have an almost active dislike of autographed head shots now. (Stills from scenes featuring a character, I like, just not head shots. *shrug) Because I do remember stumbling back across those in my teens and being kind of creeped out.
and someone who's pretty much uncomfortable in every community on either side of that equation
That amazes me, each time you mention it, because you come across, at least here on LJ, as moving between the two sides of that equation with surprising ease and fluidity.
Growing up (and especially pre-Internet), I never really cared about any of this. Musicians and actors I'd be aware of, but I liked what they created, and never considered trying to contact them because I never considered them "real" -- by which I mean the public persona is exactly that. (I would have thought it would be cool to actually meet them, don't get me wrong, it's just that I never tried, nor did I write, etc.)
Now, I've had a few contacts with people online -- writers and directors, mostly, especially in the mid to late 90's before a lot of that got shut down what with really shitty behavior on the part of a few. In particular, you could find a lot of convo & back and forth between the writers and fans of shows like Xena, Buffy, and Babylon 5 before the folks got burnt out on that (and I haven't seen the like since in any of the newer shows, so clearly word got out). Those interactions were fascinating, giving me a look "under the hood" as it were. But I always found it more interesting to interact with them as real people rather than the celebrity aspect of it.
I don't know if that makes sense, just hoping to give you more input on your own questions.
For me, I cared about those things as a child and teen, in part, because I was supposed to. It was one way I worked hard to prove I was straight and female (er, yeah, oopsie). Considering the stars that captivated me, both then and now, this was, perhaps, a particularly misguided endeavor.
Yeah, I didn't have either of those things to prove, being busy with proving I could hear, I suppose. That would make a large difference in perception. But I do know that my mother made it clear to me that celebrities weren't real -- they were a persona for entertainment purposes and had real lives and such that were separate from all that. (Now strictly speaking, I'm sure plenty of celebrities mix public and private, especially in this day & age of the Internet, and all that.) Presented to me like that, I really had no reason to go further than enjoying their products (music/movies/tv).
Oh yeah. I think people have always mixed personal and public in creating these personas. You can't not -- it's very hard to be entirely someone you aren't all the time. But I think the complete inability for anyone to see where the lines are is a product of the Internet age.
Yeah. I mean, to me, some fans missing that point is a given. I've become very interested in watching celebs themselves not get where the lines are or get that there are consequences for not being clear about those lines. Of course, at least one of my fandoms is a particularly surreal place in that regard, hence the fascination.
Now you've got me curious as to whether or not fans perceive this accurately or not.
I mean, you'll have all kinds of combos:
Celebrities who don't know where the line is and -- fans who think those celebs don't know where the line is and -- fans who don't think those celebs know this
Celebrities who do know where the line is, and their fans who think they do & fans who don't.
In particular, fans (or maybe detractors) who insist certain celebrities are not authentic.
Take Lady Gaga, for example. Those people who are mad that she's GLBT supportive when she's "not gay" and accuse her of using the DADT folks to parlay more attention to herself strike me as a possible case where those complaining think she has NOT mixed public and private and are insisting that she's inauthentic/cheating/looking for attention precisely because they think she hasn't mixed the two.
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no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 03:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 03:42 pm (UTC)Oh, I've sent embarrassing emails. Just not for anybody's birthday. And as an adult. *cringes*
Didn't as a kid, for some reason, except to presidents. At one point, I had autographed head shots and form letters of the "let's not discourage the eager kid from being a future voter" variety from Nixon, Ford, and Carter. I don't remember what I wrote to them, and I don't think I want to. Nixon's letter was probably written to him in crayon, and probably suggested by my parents. There's precocious, and there's ridiculous. Still write to politicos lots, but generally more along the lines of "please vote for/against xyz" or "stop being a moron" and less along the lines of "what's it like to be president?"
Huh. I wonder if that's why I have an almost active dislike of autographed head shots now. (Stills from scenes featuring a character, I like, just not head shots. *shrug) Because I do remember stumbling back across those in my teens and being kind of creeped out.
and someone who's pretty much uncomfortable in every community on either side of that equation
That amazes me, each time you mention it, because you come across, at least here on LJ, as moving between the two sides of that equation with surprising ease and fluidity.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 03:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:00 pm (UTC)Now, I've had a few contacts with people online -- writers and directors, mostly, especially in the mid to late 90's before a lot of that got shut down what with really shitty behavior on the part of a few. In particular, you could find a lot of convo & back and forth between the writers and fans of shows like Xena, Buffy, and Babylon 5 before the folks got burnt out on that (and I haven't seen the like since in any of the newer shows, so clearly word got out). Those interactions were fascinating, giving me a look "under the hood" as it were. But I always found it more interesting to interact with them as real people rather than the celebrity aspect of it.
I don't know if that makes sense, just hoping to give you more input on your own questions.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:05 pm (UTC)So sounds like parental influence is a big one.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-17 06:36 pm (UTC)I mean, you'll have all kinds of combos:
Celebrities who don't know where the line is and
-- fans who think those celebs don't know where the line is and
-- fans who don't think those celebs know this
Celebrities who do know where the line is, and their fans who think they do & fans who don't.
In particular, fans (or maybe detractors) who insist certain celebrities are not authentic.
Take Lady Gaga, for example. Those people who are mad that she's GLBT supportive when she's "not gay" and accuse her of using the DADT folks to parlay more attention to herself strike me as a possible case where those complaining think she has NOT mixed public and private and are insisting that she's inauthentic/cheating/looking for attention precisely because they think she hasn't mixed the two.
If you follow my reasoning, that is...