Independent 'stardom' and Romanian Showbiz

• Author: Elena-Lidia Dinu
• Position: Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest, Romania
• Pages: 147-154

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 8 (57) No. 2 - 2015

INDEPENDENT “STARDOM” AND

ROMANIAN SHOWBIZ

Elena-Lidia DINU1

Abstract: The article investigates consumerism and manufactured needs.

Since the advent of digital technology, fans have had the opportunity to

connect and communicate more easily.

Media effects on the society and on individuals are mostly negative resulting

in depreciation of headwork, stereotypes prevalence and vulgarism.

The celebrities creation process and the subsequent exploitation of (the

supposed) stars’ attitudes, behaviours and popularity with the public are key-

factors for the rise of a mass entertainment industry. Even if the Romanian

society is dealing with serious social and, above all, political issues, it

continues to be dominated by the power of media and the influence of

artificially made models on the masses is huge. As a matter of fact, it is no

wonder that celebrities such as Mihaela Rădulescu, Andreea Marin Bănică,

Andreea Esca and other members of the Romanian showbiz have got much

attention from the tabloids.

The article offers a critical review of Stardom, with particular regard to the

dominant frame of the supposed celebrities.

Key words: television, newspapers, media constructs, fan communities,

business, celebrity magazine industry.

1 Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest, Romania.

1. Introduction to “Stardom”

Although it is difficult to define, “stardom”

can be easily recognized in actors and pop

stars[18]. As a whole, a real star should have

specific qualities in order to meet the public's

and showbiz's expectations.

The Sociologist Edgar Morin approves this

idea, remarking that “female and male stars

hold essential qualities, whereby the process

of idealization and deification will naturally

develop”; moreover, “such qualities are

missing in a special – and not negligible -

category of stars: comedians”[23].

Whereas, Barbie Zelizer notes that stardom

is today “the outcome of technological

advances and results from media publicity

coupled with repeated media

appearances”[21]. Moreover, Sherwin Rosen

believes that “stardom” is the elite sector of

the society in which a relatively small number

of people earn enormous amounts of

money[24]. In order to explain this

phenomenon, he points out that “stardom”

means vocation, and it appears “whenever

consumption requires knowledge” [24].

“Stardom” occurs only whenever the quality

(of a certain product or service) is

acknowledged by the public and rewarded

with attention and goods consumption. On the

other hand, this leads to, perhaps, the most

distinctive feature of a star: power.