Explainer: The phenomenon of being famous for being famous
What does it take to achieve fame? To stay in the spotlight with the world running after you for a fleeting glimpse? Acting, singing, dancing, sports, and modeling are just some avenues that catapult one to stardom. But, there's another interesting, mind-boggling concept, of being "famous for being famous," where one achieves recognition without merit or obvious reason. Examples of such fame abound worldwide, particularly in showbiz.
What does it exactly mean?
The intriguing concept of fame without merit refers to individuals who have achieved celebrity status primarily due to their public persona, rather than any specific talent or achievement. Sometimes, these personalities initially gain recognition in a particular field like acting or singing, but their fame eventually overshadows their original accomplishments. Their public appearances and interviews typically revolve around lifestyle, romantic relationships, and social engagements. Even though they don't have a "claim to fame," the paparazzi chase them.
William Zinsser's insight on 'Fame without Merit'
Esteemed writer William Zinsser delved into the "Fame without Merit" phenomenon in his book On Writing Well, reported TV Tropes. He wrote, "I now wonder if [personality] isn't the only word for that vast swarm of people who are famous for being famous—and possibly nothing else. What do the Gabor sisters do?" The Gabor sisters (Magda, Zsa Zsa, and Eva) were socialites who were famous for being married multiple times.
'Fame without Merit' in pop culture
The theme of Fame Without Merit is often employed with a satirical twist in popular culture. In Ben Elton's dystopian novel Blind Faith, a law is passed declaring that "everyone is famous." Similarly, the film Dream Scenario features an ordinary protagonist who suddenly appears in millions of people's dreams, highlighting society's capacity to create fame without merit. Dream Scenario stars Nicolas Cage and was released in 2023.
Examples in television and video games
The concept of Fame without Merit has also permeated television shows and video games. On The Soup, Kim Kardashian is frequently cited as being famous for "having a sex tape." In an episode of How I Met Your Mother, Marshall refers to Kardashian as a "super hot lady who my wife keeps telling me why you're famous but I keep forgetting." Furthermore, the video game The Sims 3 expansion "Late Night" introduces a celebrity system that mirrors this phenomenon.
Understand it through Orry's example
Who better to explain this phenomenon than Indian pop culture's most loved and hated "star" Orry? Nobody can correctly track how Orry first rose to the limelight, but now he has, and not a day goes by when he doesn't make it to the news or isn't featured on a Bollywood/paparazzi page. He is seen at every glamorous event of Bollywood, photographed with the who's who of the industry, and even made a special appearance on Bigg Boss 17!
Another example: 'Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives'
The phenomenon, in the Indian context, can also be explained through Netflix's popular show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, which, in its two seasons so far, has dissected the glitz and glamor that defines the lives of Neelam Kothari, Bhavana Panday, Seema Sajdeh (earlier Seema Khan), and Maheep Kapoor. Other than Kothari, who is an actor, the rest are famous because of their association with film families, and yet, their lives make for perfect guilty reality TV!
