Thursday, June 22, 2006

Don't look the artist in the eye

When it comes to the behaviour of "celebrities", I am astounded by what they can get away with.

One of my dirty little secrets (no longer a secret as it is now in a blog) is my love of gossip magazines. I don't know why. I really don't actually care about these people in the magazines, but I have a morbid curiosity about what they get up to. Perhaps it is because I can go around feeling superior because I don't behave like a diva and wouldn't if I had that sort of fame and fortune. Who knows, maybe I would if I thought I would get away with it. . . No, I don't think I would. I hate being the cause of anybody feeling bad or even feeling small. I think it is the Midwestern upbringing in me. Being "not nice" was a terrible thing and was just about the worst thing one could say about you when I lived in Iowa.

So, in these magazines I hear second hand information about how movie stars and singers demand room temperature Pellegrino water, masseuse on call, luxury trailers, ad nauseum. Then if they're on a set or back stage, the extras or crew are not allowed to speak to the artist or they are not allowed to look the artist in the eye. Now if I have this wrong, then I am relieved. But if not, why oh why do people get away with demanding stuff like that? Why can't the artist just say, "don't bug me". Maybe they are tired of saying "don't bug me" because it makes them feel mean and this ridiculous clause helps them not to have to say it anymore. I don't begrudge the luxuries. They've made the millions by being talented and or beautiful, enjoy it. But throwing your weight around because you can get away with it is really creepy. Sheesh!

I'd like somebody to write to me and defend this behaviour. Give me a logical reason why somebody can demand that other people not look them in they eye.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was a diva when I was nine- sitting around the dinner table, having just gotten in trouble, and seeing my SISTER staring at me while I tried not to cry... of course the first words out of my mouth were, "Stop looking at me!!" Divas are just trying to spare themselves the embarrassment of having to deal with someone else. It's a hard, hard life. I know.

Sally

Peggy said...

I remember you being a bit of a princess when we were little and it annoying me but I don't have one single memory of you ever getting in trouble. You may be suffering from false memory syndrome in this instance Sal.

(btw - you don't annoy me now - XX)

tom said...

We also used to look our sister in the eye, until she would get angry. Finally she'd say, "Stop staring" and I would say to her, "How do you know I was staring, unless you were staring yourself also?"

In fact she went on to become a diva. Now, maybe she doesn't have to look people in the eye at all, I don't know. I think it's the Iowan in you coming out in this post. My int'l students have trouble with this one also!

Cheers & hello to both of you! It's sweet to see you both being sisters in the comments section!