The Bishop Is Crossing aka To be or not to be... A Kardashian: How does celebrity for celebrity sake effect the development of our culture?

Recently I posted a rhetorical question on Twitter/Facebook saying "How do we raise daughters to value an education when so many young women are making good money as "Instagram models?". Well that sparked a nice exchange about morality, self-esteem and the like. Which I found slightly disturbing and sexist even coming from women who describe themselves as "feminist' were reduced to slut shaming in part. But the post got me thinking about the macro impact of our celebrity culture.

From our politics to our economy the “look” is more important than what is tangible. How do we continue into the next century when flash and sizzle is more important than what is in the pot?

It is obvious that America is more concerned with being entertained then being governed. We want someone that makes us feel good about ourselves rather than one that encourages us to improve our station in this world. We prefer to be titillated then educated or informed and that is very dangerous in today’s troubling times.

The rise of Donald Trump as a viable candidate for President should give us all pause. I don't think Trump's front runner status is merely due to his celebrity status, there is something to be said for today's political climate craving someone who doesn’t appear tethered to the oligarchs or the status quo. But we must admit his entertainment value helps.

This “Political Entertainment” culture isn't anything really new. It goes back to Ronald Regan and arguably back to John F. Kennedy. In the modern era Bill Clinton & Barack Obama both ascended to the Presidency because they looked and sounded good on Television. However Regan, Clinton and Obama at least had some substance. These new bunch of presidential contestants at least on the Right have none.

Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and the bunch all have the depth of understanding in regards to history and current events as a gold fish. The state of affairs are so dire that Kanye West can announce his presidential run on an award show not for this cycle but for the next Presidential cycle of 2020 and people actually think he is serious.

We are not a serious people anymore.

Since the 90s when President Bill Clinton signed and Telecommunications Act in 1996, the "News" was allowed to be placed for the first time under the "entertainment division" of networks. The result was the news then became a source of revenue unlike before when it was simply considered something broadcasting companies had to produce to maintain their charter under FCC regulations. Now arguably news divisions becoming profit centers began in the 70s way before Clinton. The legendary movie "Network" illustrates how the media plays on fear and sensationalism for ratings and really foreshadows what would eventually become 40 years later. But in my opinion the Clinton law allowed infotainment to not only be legal and open but put it on steroids.

Well what does that have to do with the Kardashians?

News producers no longer produce the news the people need but they produce the news the people want. In a sense the news has now become reality television.

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Ten years ago Kanye West said "The President doesn't care about black people", but is it really the "Presidency" itself that doesn't care?

Looking on back on the 10th Anniversary of Kanye West's most famous and controversial public statement.

Ten years ago Rapper/Producer and now "apparently" future presidential candidate Kanye West said these seven now famous words "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People".

On national television during a telethon to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Kanye West at that time was still beginning his career and not yet the mega star that he would eventually become, attacked “The leader of the free world” and the United States government itself in what could have led to an end to his promising career.

There is a long history of artist who have taken controversial political stances or made public impromptu statements that ultimately lead to them being “black-balled”. The list is endless in our history; Nina Simone, The Dixie Chicks, Sinead O’Connor, Billy Holiday even John Lennon; all saw their careers take a dip and some never recovered after they made remarks unfavorable to the powers that be,

However the reverse seemed to have occurred for Kanye. His statements arguably raised his stock price and even caused George W. Bush to lament in his biography that; that moment was the "lowest point of his Presidency". Yes not the crashing of a global economy or an unnecessary war that caused the deaths of millions including tens of thousands of American soldiers, but the words of a young upstart entertainer cut the former President like a Knife. Why? Because, it was in fact true.

But maybe it wasn't George W. Bush who didn't care about Black people but America itself..

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