Movie stars as role models : Movie Stars

[TizzyWinkle2]

I teach middle school, where the kids are really in the most intense throes of worshipping various celebrities. Athletes, rock stars, and movie stars pretty much account for all the fangirling and fanboying.

Sometimes I get to thinking about what it is that they see in the movie stars they idolize, and whether they're idolizing them for the right reasons.

To be fair, many movie stars are admirable in their own right. An actor is a performer, like a dancer or a musician, and as such has worked hard to perfect their craft and pursued excellence with dedication. Someone like Robert De Niro has spent a lot of time taking classes, working on himself physically and mentally, doing internal preparation for the performances he's given. Hard work and dedication are certainly admirable qualities, as is creativity. But not all actors are like that. I doubt Ashton Kutcher is spending time studying acting with Uta Hagen.

And, let's face it, that's not what kids respond to. If I asked them (as I'm sometimes tempted to do) why they love Actor X so much, they'd respond with something to do with their looks. Or it's their fame and money that they admire and want for themselves. But there's a difference between some actor you have a crush on and someone you consider a role model or a hero, right? I mean, I kind of have a crush on Catherine Zeta-Jones, but I don't consider her a role model for my life.

I admit it bugs me when the girls idolize Lindsay Lohan, or the boys want to be like Vin Diesel. What's there to admire there, really? If you're going to idolize a movie star, at least pick one with something that you can aspire to, something about them that inspires you to better yourself. Even if it's not their creative work. But are they interested in bettering themselves? No. They're interested in being rich and famous.

Sometimes I feel like Tyler Durden, talking about how pop culture and movies and ads and commercials have convinced us all that we're all going to be rock stars or screen idols or rich and famous somehow and we're just not. And is that the end-all be-all of existence? I suppose for some, it is. But look at all the celebrities who are rich and famous and miserable.

Is it happiness we really want, and we think fame and money will give it to us? Or is it the fame and money we want, and are willing to sacrifice happiness to have it?

Food for thought.

[mom2manyboyz]

You know, it might not be all the kids that really idolize the stars, but rather you hear the ones that do talking about it. I talk about different celebs with my coworkers, but I've never understood looking up to or idolizing total strangers. You might know what they look like and what you hear that they do, but you don't really know what type of person they are. That is what counts. People that feel this way, probably don't say it enough.

[ona]

mom2manyboyz

I agree. When it comes to kids and how they view the world, it all starts in the home. I have 4 kids and they love the entertainers in movies, shows and music but yet they do not idolize any. They see them as what they are, entertainers. My daughter aspires to be a singer some day, but not because she specifically wants to be like anyone in particular. It is because of her love of music.

Kids just need the right guidance and they will see what being a true role model really is. Many movie stars are excellent role models but not because of the money they make, etc. but because of their hard work, dedication and contributions to society such as starting foundations and centers to help children, victims of disease or disaster, the underprivileged, etc. Movie stars are human beings just like the rest of us and expecting them to be perfect role models is just unrealistic.

Ona

[Oriana]

I totally agree, kids who see these stars are heroes also run the risk growing up being unhappy with themselves or their lives because they never became that big rock n roll star or actor they always wanted to be! Unfortunately most of the heroes in society are all unsung instead our society gives prominent placing to essentially useless peole like paris Hilton.

I just try to keep house a safe place for my two year old daughter and not plaster movie posters or whatever around (some people do this!) so that she can feel she is herself here as she grows instead of always aspiring to be someone else who doesn't exist at any rate!

[vpmraika]

I don't have any kids of my own, but I coach high school rowing. The girls I normally coach are about 14 years old so I hear a lot about the people they look up to as role models. Since they are a little older they understand that some of the stars aren't good people to look up to, but they are still influenced by what they see, especially when it come to how they look. I don't think of my job as just a teaching these girls how to row, but how to get self confidence so they don't compare themselves to those they see on TV and at the movies and feel inadequate. So many of them already have issues and doubts about how great they are - it makes me really sad to see.

[mysticfire.fly]

You know, this is something I never really thought about a lot before. My parents were great about not allowing us to plaster movie or singer posters all over the place. I always thought they just didn't want holes and tape all over their walls, now I wonder if there was more to it. I never really had any movie star role models as a child. I'm pretty grateful for that now.
The media has done a great job of skewing what we should look like, how we should act, etc.
Unfortunately children are really impressionable, and it would be hard to keep them from having some of the dangerous role models.
Kudo's to those who are trying to keep their kids out of that mindset!

[vpmraika]

My parents didn't let us put movie posters on the wall either and cited the same 'holes in the wall' reason for it! I've never really thought about it until you mentioned it mysticfire.fly, but now I think I'll ask my mom about it next time I call her. Honestly, I feel like there is so much that you cannot stop a child from seeing that it makes me scared to be a parent. On the other hand you can't protect them forever and if you try you just hurt them... it must be such a hard balance to achieve.

[eastuptown]

But putting posters on the wall doesn't necessarily equal idol worship either. I mean, I had posters of the Backstreet Boys and the like, but it was really just 'cause I had huge crushes on all of them. Good parenting about who to look up to has to be a lot more active than banning pictures and posters (not that vpmraika or mysticfire.fly were saying that, of course, just putting that out there).

And vpmraika, I am terrified to be a parent for that very same reason! At some point, you have to stop covering their eyes, whether you like it or not. I remember how terrified my parents were when they realized that I was a real person; they had never wanted to believe it until that point! I'm not looking forward to that parenthood revelation of "Oh my God! My kid's got a whole life of his own!" Preparing them with healthy role models is just the tip of the iceberg.

One more thing about actors: Something I discuss with my father a lot is the generally degrading quality of movie actors over time. Sure, there are still great actors and still great movies being made, but the world doesn't seem to be producing many Jimmy Stewarts anymore. Even more recently than that, Meryl Streep was (and still is) a spectacular actress and would have actually been a great role model for the 14-year-old girls of her time (I'm thinking around the time of Sophie's Choice, the French Lieutenant's Woman, etc). But who do they have now? I can't even really think of one actress who I'd love for my (hypothetical) daughter to look up to as a human being. Any suggestions?

[skydancer]

You really make some very good points about how the kids idolize the stars. Many stars do not realize or rather don't fully appreciate their influence on kids today. It is important not only to know how to do well before the screen but realize what type of role model you are portraying for kids that have become your fans as well.

Of course parents need to step in and play an active role too. After all, it is important to know what your kids are watching and who they are looking up to for role models and idols.

Great thread!

[Zuiwatch]

I really think movie stars are horrible role models. Nowadays, most movie stars are famous for scandels, drugs, and other things that society considers to be a bad influence. Movie stars are people who didnt have problems saying stuff in front of people. They are the same as any other human being.