Our Entertainment Business and Fame

Gaining Fame through Youtube:
http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/shane-dawson-jenna-marbles-internet-fame-1201271428/

When discussing the entertainment business and "famous" people you have to take into account the modes with which people rise to fame. In this day and age it is essential that we talk about Youtube and the new ways that people are rising to stardom that doesn't necessarily include big corporations like Disney. In this article I read called "New Breed of Online Stars Rewrite the Rules of Fame," the author discussed how many people are rising to fame through different modes than other generations have experienced and how that is affecting the entertainment business.

The most obvious example is Youtube; many singers and comedians first gain their real following on their YouTube channel. They make money through ads and from events they are able to hold for subscribers. This is different from the past because they are the sole creators of their fame and they are their own agents. The article also discusses the obvious characteristics you need to become an internet sensation. They say that it helps to be good looking and funny, but also very hard working and able to put in lots of time. I think that people becoming famous through YouTube, Vine, and Instagram is very relevant and interesting. It makes becoming famous much easier, in some ways, than in previous years. Now literally anyone with internet access and a camera can become famous. I think that I can also use the new internet stars to show how the needed characteristics for stardom might be changing, or how it is the same.

Justin Bieber Trademark Rise to Fame:
http://singularityhub.com/2010/03/16/justin-bieber-and-the-rising-importance-of-accelerating-media/

It is hard to discuss people's rise to fame nowadays without referencing Justin Bieber, one of the biggest teen pop stars. With just a few videos on YouTube Bieber was made an internet sensation. This article discusses how an unknown boy from Canada could become the most talked about teen in the United States almost overnight. The article discusses accelerated media and its effect on who becomes famous.

Through accelerated media the common person is the fastest mode of transportation of information. People are able to display their interests freely and spark someone else to see what they saw. This makes videos and other ideas or people spread like a wildfire. I think that this could be interesting to look into because Justin Bieber is a staple for how people started to become famous in recent years and how luck factors in to someone's ability to become a celebrity. The article discusses how Bieber became an internet sensation at exactly the right time because no one else was really doing it. But then he opened the doors for more and more internet sensations. Although I myself am not a Belieber in an respect, I think that analyzing his rise to stardom could answer many of my questions.


Alex from Target:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/business/media/teenage-clerk-rises-from-target-to-star-on-twitter-and-talk-shows-.html?_r=0

In this article the NY times discusses the recent rise to fame of one 16 year old from Texas. His name is Alex Lee and he was photographed while bagging a girl's belongings at target. She posted the picture later and made the hashtag Alex from target. His picture soon went viral because teen girls and others thought he was very attractive. This shows the sheer power of the fangirl and the media. This kid who had no other apparent talents except for being "good looking" was made an internet sensation overnight because of his good looks. I think this interesting because the internet and media can spark things that never would have been noticed before. I think that the idea of a fangirl is worth looking into and why girls are so likely to make a man famous because of his looks but that rarely happens with men. Why do girls "fan girl?" Also the article made an interesting point about celebrities and famous actresses that had been given movie deals because their picture was seen. This took place even in the 1930's.