Comments on: The Celebrity Syndrome

By: Scar

Scar — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:34:25 +0000

It seems to me we are living in a time when the majority of people want to be a celebrity at any cost. What’s worst is that WE the public make celebrities of just about anyone (think Jersey shore)Talent no longer seems to be a requirement.

I’m often criticized by friends for not having a Facebook or twitter account and for refusing to have my picture taken every five seconds whenever we get together. They ask if I think Im a celebrity and I tell them on the contrary; I’m not a celebrity that’s why I DONT need a picture of every single thing I do.
Maybe it’s just me but I thimk there’s a fine line between wanting to keep memories of special moments and turning every occasion into a fotoshoot.

With Love,
Someone who loves being unknown :)

By: Sammy Richel

Sammy Richel — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:13:39 +0000

Hey there! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My weblog looks weird when browsing from my apple iphone. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share. Cheers!

By: monica maturo

monica maturo — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:43:01 +0000

Para mim a palavra mesmo diz : uma doença raramente curavel

By: depress khusi

depress khusi — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:33:08 +0000

i am worrying what to do if i am a victim
mostly all of we fail to love what is already with us in the light of what we don have around us..what must such victim do

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:29:05 +0000

I dont know what means, but sounds like a diseas, I noticed the characters were addicted to the lights and glitter like to drugs. They were not happy but pretend to be, and only very few were able to live in their own way, not playing the rule( unwritten), as you said in novel, they were slaves to their lyfe style. Cannes with all expectations that raised in some minds, acted as the mirage in a desert, who followed the mirage was lost. But you said the same in the book too…I copy your words??? Sorry, is that I agree and the comparison is one of the best.

By: Nicolette

Nicolette — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:31:47 +0000

Having lived in Los Angeles, I understand the celebrity syndrome, I used to liken it to the time of the Greeks and Mt. Olympus, actually there is a Mt. Olympus Drive in the Hollywood Hills! In Greek mythology the gods came down and played with the mortals, teased the mortals, had sex with the mortals, but then they went back to Mt. Olympus, there was a dance between the gods and the mortals. The same happens in Los Angles, the celebrities Mt. Olympus are their gated homes, the private clubs, the passes, the tinted windows. They may run into Ralphs for a carton of milk, or Starbucks for a latte, teasing the mere mortals with their proximity. The big difference with the Greek gods, you couldn’t become a god, you had to be a god, sired by a god, the only way you could live on Mt. Olympus was if you were a god. In the celebrity syndrome everyone has a story of how they became a celebrity, sitting at a drugstore counter, discovered shopping at Ralphs, so yes, you too can become a celebrity, somewhat like the American dream, like winning the lottery! I had a boyfriend who was an actor and did a bit part on very successful series, one of the regulars died and they were looking for a replacement, he was called in to audition for the part. His agent called him the next day and said they want you, you’ve got the part, you’ll start Monday. The next day she called back and said they changed their mind. The actor who they chose went on to have a very successful career, so my boyfriend had to watch this actor have the career he wanted and almost had. There’s a feeling that celebrities are invincible, that they can do and go and be anything they want, no one says, no you can’t go there, where’s your pass. Some celebrities I’ve known make me think how mind boggling it must be, to be known by so many people. I somewhat know a very famous celebrity who espouses wanting to fall in love, I’ve said, well you have your own match.com at your disposal, but maybe because of that, he can’t fall in love. If you use your celebrity for good, then more power to you, is how I look at it, because like it or not, worthy or not, we do treat them like gods and goddesses.

By: Elaine Stevens

Elaine Stevens — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:59:28 +0000

Namaste Sr. Coelho,
People who had celebrity in the book were grasping to hold onto it or garner more while people who didn’t have celebrity seemed to want it. Seems sad to me. It helps an artist sell his or her work, but celebrity is really an illusion which makes a person feel superior… to what, I’ll never figure out.

Love to you

By: natasha

natasha — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:54:27 +0000

i never realy understood that need which most of the humanity simes to have:to become famous.it never simed like such a great lifestyle to me,beeing followed all the time,not having any privacy,people always getting in your face,thinking that they have a right to critisize everything you do or don’t do and i’m only 20.if i can understand at my age how stupid and empty and unimportant all that is,how can someone who’s 30 or 40 not see that?well,i guess we’re all different.

By: V.BALA.

V.BALA. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:39:21 +0000

You have rightly quoted, It is the Inner Quality which makes one a HERO otherwise in-spite of his stardom and fame, one is ZERO.

By: sabrina..

sabrina.. — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:38:54 +0000

“the celebrity syndrome… selfish.. empty .,, ignorant and arrogant .. full of dreams .. but nothing satisfy them.. happy.. with themself. they want glory but they wish to have a normal life.. and when they make donations they tell the whole world. and i belive if you realy wants to help someone you dont have to do publicity for it and they all do it to get more than what they gave

By: elisabeth delage

elisabeth delage — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:14:17 +0000

when i was a child,i dreamed sometimes to be someone famous.even if i like many famous people, now i think i won’t have this courage,i like my anonymous life,secret,free to walk everywhere,just to be a “grain de sable”.i don’t think that young people see the real price of the fame.

By: Merlin B

Merlin B — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:35:43 +0000

‘Celebrity Syndrome’. This syndrome to me is believing that all there is to achieve in life is money, fame, influence and then some more money- to have everyone envy me. I think that’s what it is because it’s all I see with Celebrities on TV, on the radio and in the news.
When I read WSA, I realized just how much I bought into the illusion of Celebrity. Celebs really are just who the men behind the curtain want them to be. I would not dislike them for what they do though, as I appreciate their work in cinema, music etc., and one does have to make a living after all. But I have stopped taking them seriously outside of their job, i.e. everything that is covered in celeb gossip shows and magazines- because all that stuff exists only to promote themselves further, for example, a celebrity stirring up a large controversy just before a new movie, tour or album release.
As an aspiring fashion designer, I can say that Fashion itself has caught the celebrity syndrome; it’s gone from being an art form that expresses the wearers / makers individuality to being a race of which-celebrity-wears-the-outfit-first. It’s gone from paying for a quality good to paying for the most publicized, celebrity endorsed, and envy inducing products, no matter how unflattering it is. Of course, there are the exceptions, but overall, it’s quite disheartening

By: Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:06:56 +0000

Dear Scarlett,
change is first inner change – then it spreads to others.
I completely agree with you.
Much love
Paulo

By: Irina S.

Irina S. — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:45:12 +0000

thank you annie for your feedback. i am really interested in how different peoples use the same sayings and even words but with different meanings and you are right: the idea is the same.
thank you again

By: Scarlett Truman

Scarlett Truman — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:42:11 +0000

To look at the “Celebrity Syndrome” I believe you need to look at both sides of the equation. Yes, there are the people who will do anything for fame at any cost (and often without a lot of substance, but not always). The rest of the equation is the + machine that drives this (Hollywood is one example) and = the great demand, the audience, i.e. you and me.

While I for one can, today, take myself out of that equation for the most part (I don’t by paparazzi trade mags, or see a lot of mainstream Hollywood backed film, nor do I watch TV), I have been a consumer, whether knowingly or not, in the past.

I think Paulo’s book brings awareness to this matter…what can each of us do? I can’t change the Hollywood machine, but I can change what I pay attention to and where I put my energy.

Does that make me a “winner?” I honestly hope not, because then there has to be a loser. What I hope it does do is make me peaceful and conscience of what is fulfilling to me.

As for people of any class or status being good or bad, I’m done with that way of polar thinking (most days, I struggle with Bush and Cheney still). I choose to see everyone, and I mean everyone as divine at their core; some just have more evil behavior than others and they will have that karma to work out.

Thank you Paulo for stretching our perceptions with this latest novel!

As ever,
Scarlett

By: Irina S.

Irina S. — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:56:58 +0000

we have this saying too, but it has nothing to do with what i was trying to say maybe because we use it with a different meaning than you do. i used the word ‘smoke’ in order to emphasize the lack of substance of certain people and if these people are to be our models than the society will certainly follow a process of involution.
we use this saying when we want to say that a fact is considered to be true not without a reason, that maybe there is a little bit of truth in what it is said about something or somebody – therefore you can’t have smoke if you do not lit a fire.

By: kealan

kealan — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:36:36 +0000

Thanks! I have lost a few loved ones to drugs over the years :(

By: Irina S.

Irina S. — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:02:57 +0000

People trying to become famous at all costs…we see more and more each day. Unfortunatelly, the great majority are mere forms without substance. As long as they have the looks and famous (again!) stylist clothes are quickly made deities alive. The Bank of Favours gets opened and other “Pales” try to get their business cards as if they were the proper key of the success door.
And again unfortunatelly, when you build a society on smoke, sooner or later it will fall down.
I agree that everything in life has a price but moderation must be involved too and one should learn not too bite more than he/she can chew.

By: Marie-Christine

Marie-Christine — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:59:35 +0000

now that is a recipe to add to my list Santosh.
Thank you.
Love
Marie-Christine

By: Marie-Christine

Marie-Christine — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:20:35 +0000

Don’t they say that your countrymen are always the last to recognize your talents?
I think I can see a pattern with quite a few artists and scientists.

By: Devy Man

Devy Man — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:02:55 +0000

the original concept of being a real star isn’t it ;
shinning from inside to outside ?!

By: Marie-Christine

Marie-Christine — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:37:42 +0000

Dear Carlitos,
I did not think you were rude.
I wish you all the very best and I hope you achieve your dreams like
I hope I will achieve mine too.
I like what you say about finding a way to help your people.I think it is a honourable way.

Gros bisous pour vous et cristina.

By: Carolena Sabah

Carolena Sabah — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:43:58 +0000

By the way, I used the word love in the context of both a noun and a verb. :)

By: Carolena Sabah

Carolena Sabah — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:40:18 +0000

That is beautiful Carlitos, you should go out, where ever you need to go, walk the distance and achieve your dream and love. That is the ultimate!
Bon Voyage! :)

By: Carolena Sabah

Carolena Sabah — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:37:16 +0000

Santosh… your last line is Quite funny :)
I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw such a thing.

By: Carolena Sabah

Carolena Sabah — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:31:02 +0000

Sadly this is the Hollywood scene. Cocaine Everywhere. Most of ‘friends’ I made, I couldn’t continue because they all did cocaine. Even one good guy that has just gotten to Hollywood, he changed faces because of cocaine… for this reason, I didn’t have many ‘friends’ there. It was hard though, when it’s practically everywhere.

By: Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:36:28 +0000

Excelent definition, Kealan.

By: kealan

kealan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:05:40 +0000

The Celebrity Syndrome is when somebody thinks they have made it and self-medicate with cocaine… then leaving them void of emotion and empathy for the world.

By: Carlitos

Carlitos — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:10:14 +0000

Dear Marie-Christine,

First of all sorry If I was rude, I actually like your comments and your name, my girlfriend’s name is Cristina and her is the only reason for what I’m considering to leave my country, the story is simple I fall in love and I’m sure you know that as all the things that matters to the heart you just know when you see it, so I love her and she loves me, we are from distant countries, so choices have to be made… Instead of seeing this as a problem I see opportunity to help from abroad, to create links and to achieve my dreams, I believe that this is my path, but anyway, I wanted to tell you that…

I’m not a Scientist by the way but I know the issue of people going out to find a better life, the sad thing as you said is that sometimes this are not truly their dreams and they just seek money, in my case I’m driven by love, to a women, to achieve a dream and to find a way to finally help my people…

Gros bisous!
Carlitos

By: Santosh Kalwar

Santosh Kalwar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:13:35 +0000

Dear Paulo,

Celebrity are public figures in our society. I don’t know why their is this difference between normal ordinary people and celebrity. Humans we all are and humans we all should be till our existence. I agree that some are genuine with talents of art, creation, science, movies, drama, and so on.

Many of those who are celebrity does not necessarily be skillful possess great talent, many of those who wanna be celebrity are highly skillful but they are not.

Every individual has some duty to perform on this earth. Some become writers like Paulo, Shakespeare, Neruda … and some become Celebrity like Johnny depp, Al Pacino, …some become artist Leonardo da vinci, … and they are known to normal ordinary human like us. The reflection of their great work divides ordinary VS extra-ordinary. Maybe this is why the world is changing. With so many great crazy peoples like these.

Everything is driven by path which is already written in your “hidden scripts”. The path unknown. We are walking a journey which is moved by mind and heart. Anyways, hardly anyone will disagree not to see him/her as an celebrity.The mass media penetration has great impact and role which has played for becoming anyone celebrity.

One wise man once said to me, “when you have little money you have little choices to make and when you have more, you will have more problems to face.”

Maybe he is true. Whatever any person do and become in life, the most important of all is “satisfaction”. What if he does not get it even after becoming a celebrity?

What if he is living not his life but a life of others? What if he never wanted to become a celebrity? But has to be a celebrity because his father/mother/… were previously one of them.

Although there would be difference between the public figures and celebrity. Greene says “You simply have to be present, in the right place at the right time.” Whereas “…public[ly famous] people were once defined as such based upon the fact their remarkable skills had brought them to the attention of the public,” (Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity)

Finally I would say, this is very open topic and maybe someday in future some one will make medicine to become a celebrity. It will say, Take two pills in morning and in evening and in one month you are going to become celebrity. Ha ha ha…(Joke)