Whether we like it or not, celebrities have greatly affected culture and society. Even the way they are reported can differ in certain countries. We are now at the point where nations themselves are shaped due to celebrity outreach.
Look At The Royals In England
One of the best examples of how celebrities have influenced the culture of their own home nation is with the royal family. The royal family have accounted for money coming in via tourism for decades. In fact, pre-pandemic, it was reported that they had helped contribute over £19 billion to Britain’s economy.
This has also meant that people have a set idea of what Britain and England, in general, will be like, thanks to the royal family. It is the royal residence buildings that people are fascinated with the most, including Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to name a few.
A lot of the money generated comes from ticket sales, but you also have to consider how they will spend their time in the country before and after visiting tourist locations. That means public transport costs, food and hotels. They help contribute over and over to the economy all because they want to catch a glimpse of what is essentially a celebrity.
Celebrities Represent Their Country
Whilst it may not seem like it, the actual country can be directly affected by how a celebrity is perceived. Think of how the Beatles impacted British culture across the world, it opened up new opportunities for worldwide sponsorship, and how people looked at Britain.
This has only been heightened by international relations and the growth of technology, which has allowed for national celebrities to go worldwide. In recent years, we’ve seen British stars such as James Corden make it big in America, as an example. Whilst not as many Americans make it in the US, a few still do.
How To Find Out Who Is Popular Where
It gets to the point that some people will choose their holiday destinations based purely on where celebrities go on holiday, or where they live. That’s what made Hollywood such a popular tourist destination, where tourists sign up for tours that drive past celebrity homes.
This love of celebrities has evolved further thanks to social media. Social media allows tourists and individuals from anywhere to connect with celebrities across the world in ways that simply wasn’t possible before. For example, thanks to social media, we can see how the world is evolving for the love of K-POP, which originated in South Korea.
We also saw the world take to stars such as Justin Bieber and One Direction, which boosted popularity with England, with many international tourists coming over for concerts, or just to experience the culture. You can use the Travel Department to view an interactive map of what social media stars are popular where, and who they are. It’s a great way to gain some insight into a country before visiting.
Can They Have A Negative Effect?
Whilst celebrities and their popularity will affect the culture of their home nation, and society in general, it’s worth noting that it’s not always possible for it to be positive. The issue that can happen with celebrity culture, is that people can become too immersed in it.
Most of the time, this could be something passive and not harmful, but it can get dangerous. For example, those who spend all of their time idolising celebrities could develop an unhealthy habit.
One such unhealthy habit is to stalk their celebrity. This is not only distressing for everyone involved, but it does also lead to potentially deadly consequences, such as when a celebrity is murdered due to their fascination.
For others, it can cause mental health issues, where they are constantly comparing themselves to celebrities. This has been a common factor in other body image problems for young women, as well as anxiety issues. When celebrities change their image or identity, they can also be threatened by fans who don’t like the change.
When They Have A Positive Effect
Whilst there are of course negative points associated with celebrity culture across the world, there is no doubt that it has largely done well. They do, after all, provide a service that people are interested in. Otherwise, they simply wouldn’t be successful.
Oftentimes, celebrities work with charities to help spread a good cause and a positive message. This could be with them donating money from their own bank accounts, or helping to fundraise through alternative means.
At the end of the day, celebrities are role models, that many young people look up to and strive to aim towards. This helps them do good for society, by directly inspiring the next generation.
