|
Help kids see through celebrity
By DOUG WORGUL Knight Ridder
News
URL: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/04/22/features/life/45-celebs.txt
To say we live in a celebrity-obsessed culture is
an obvious and tired observation. How to mitigate the negative effects
of a celebrity-obsessed culture -- especially on children -- is not so
obvious.
In Psychology Today, writer Carlin Flora suggests that America's
fascination with celebrity is a symptom of a larger cultural obsession
with the three A's -- affluence, attractiveness and achievement.
Celebrities seem to embody all of these.
Affluence, attractiveness and achievement are understandably desirable
and certainly not inherently harmful. But fixation on these can
sometimes divert individuals, especially young people, from other
values, such as community, charity and commitment.
Flora quotes psychologist James Houran, who says that in a secular
society the "need for ritualized worship can be displaced onto
celebrities."
"Nonreligious people tend to be more interested
in celebrity culture," Houran says. "For them, celebrity fills some of
the same roles the church fills for believers, like the desire to fit
into a community of people with shared values."
If you want your children to grow up with an understanding that looks
aren't everything, you can't buy happiness, and we are more than the
sum of our achievements and failures, youngsters will need critical
thinking skills. Educators and psychologists say these skills will
help children deconstruct the mixed messages they get from
celebrity-crazed media.
Ask your teenager: Why is Paris Hilton on the cover of that magazine?
Likely response: Because she's a celebrity?
Then you ask: Why is she a celebrity?
Probable reply: Because she was on that show with Nicole Richie?
You ask: Why was she on that show?
Inevitable answer: Because she's a celebrity?
This kind of circular logic makes no sense. But most kids don't see
the world through the lens of critical thinking. They don't ask why or
how a celebrity achieved her lofty status. You don't have to be famous
for doing anything. You can be famous for being famous.
Here are some tips and tactics suggested by "The State of Media
Education," a publication of the New Mexico Media Literacy Project, to
help parents teach critical thinking to their kids:
Resist putting a television and computer in your child's room. This
allows her to watch indiscriminately. It is better for you to know
what she's watching; that way you can discuss the programs.
Encourage your children to think about their favorite shows and media
personalities. Why do they like them? Do they reflect the values of
your family, school, community or church?
Speculate about the real lives of some of the celebrities they
idolize. Would you really want to be like Paris Hilton or Jessica
Simpson? Wouldn't you get tired of and be insulted by people liking
you only for your looks and money? Wouldn't you rather be known for
being a good, kind and thoughtful person?
Ask your children to talk about the kinds of things they like best
about their own friends, family members, teachers and coaches. Is it
that they're famous and rich and pretty? Or is it that they're fun,
funny, helpful, caring, friendly and smart?
Encourage kids to be skeptical. Get them to ask questions such as "Is
the only reason I'm interested in that person on TV is because she is
on TV?"
Stay current with the programs, music and video games your kids are
consuming. It's the only way you'll be able to have intelligent and
informed discussions with them about the people and images they're
exposed to.
Published on Saturday, April
22, 2006.
Last modified on 4/22/2006 at 12:45 am |