The Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity found in The Demise of Pop Icons

Closely tied to the status of being a “Pop Icon,” the cult of celebrity phenomenon is almost always in existence.  This is especially true when we are discussing such demise of icons.  Through the test of time, celebrities and icons have shared the limelight with what society and culture deem heroic.  However, these two theories defiantly can be distinguished in different manners.  Celebrity status has often led stars to act out in ways that the public views as absurd.  Living lavishly on life through outrageous acts that only fuels societies desire to form obsessions with the expectations that we have witnessed in such stars as Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston; both of whom met their demise way too early. 

What is important to analyze however is how intertwined the terms hero and celebrity have become.  While the public views celebrities as icons, they too expect a level of heroism from them as well.  Celebrities are seen as icons, giving many societal members something to aspire for.  Therefore, it is easy to see where the term hero comes into play.  While there is no single act of valor from the celebrity they are still viewed as vibrant force that is looked up to for guidance, this is especially true of the younger generation. 

            Though examining these theories and directly relating them to the demise of pop icons, we can begin to form opinions on how these stars lives began to spiral out of control and how the pressure eventually lead to untimely deaths as their reputation superseded their desire and will to continue meeting the standards set for them.  The lesson taken from such theories is that celebrity status does not and will not ever constitute that of a hero when it comes to celebrity demise.  Instead, such demise gives us knowledge into how such stigma can influence one’s own life to where their own hero is gone; at which time their will to achieve higher status leads to their own eventual death.