You Name It
The big buzzword in the marketplace nowadays is "branding." It used to be that the idea of name brands was confined to things like breakfast cereals, hair care products, and gasoline additives, but today it's all over the place. Indeed, it's reached its reductio ad absurdum now that celebrities aren't really established until they're considered a brand, at which point they can put their name on a line of perfume or bluejeans. Not long ago they were simply stars, with star quality, but stardom has become a baby step on the way to real fame. Perhaps it's come about because so many people have been attaining celebrity status who can't really do anything, like act, sing, or hit home runs. The ne plus ultra of branding is "going viral," and all that requires is doing something really stupid and having a video of it posted to YouTube where millions of people will view it before you can say American Idol.
posted by John M Crowther @ 8:10 AM
2 Comments:
Have to agree with the commentary, John C. Some of the younger actors (?) are prime examples of the state of stardom nowadays. The worse the behavior, the more the publicity. Sad to say.
Once upon a time the San Diego Padres and the Chargers played in Jack Murphy stadium, named as an honorium for a great sportswriter. It became Qualcomm stadium and I don't know what it is now. Kind of sad, isn't it?
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