Idol, Ideal, and Real

[author_by_night]

So there's this community I sometimes visit, for a show I watch. Recently in that fandom, it has come out that an actress on the show is leaving.

One of the posts was by a fan saying that there should be a petition started to ask the actress, who I won't name for spoilery reasons, not to leave.

I understand that it's upsetting when a character we love leaves a show. I'm not overly happy about it myself - she wasn't my favorite, but I liked her.

However... the actress is not the character.

Acting is a job, like anything else. A manager might decide to leave her store; should customers of that particular store hound her about not leaving? They can say they like her, and the store won't be the same without her, but I think they should also respect the fact that for whatever reason, the manager decided to leave. Maybe it was the upper management. Maybe it was corporate. Maybe she just needs a change in her life. For whatever reason, she made the difficult decision to go somewhere else.

A performer is no different, but I'm not sure everyone realizes that.

A few years ago - maybe just a year ago, I'm not good with judging time - Daniel Radcliffe, actor in the Harry Potter movies, got a star role in Equus. The movies have been generally family friendly; Equus is a play that involves fetishes and a scene in which the lead character appears naked.

People were horrified, and around the internet I saw people question whether or not "Harry Potter" should be in such a play.

But Daniel Radcliffe isn't Harry Potter. Harry is a boy wizard; Dan Radcliffe is a famous actor. And he has no obligation to go by what some  Harry Potter fans and parents of younger fans want from him. He's just doing his job, which is to act. Who are we to say what parts he should play?

I've seen this sort of mentality take other forms, too. I love when I see fans asking why the actor or actress they love doesn't have their address, email, and phone number readily available. Look,part of me would love to be able to call JK Rowling and ask her why she killed off my favorite characters, but... she doesn't even know me. I'd just be invading her privacy. 

Finally, a friend of mine recently told me that on a band community she goes to, people were saying, in earnest, that a certain performer was "the one" for them. I'm not saying I haven't had my celebrity crushes - but these girls (and guys) don't even know that performer. I mean, I'm sure he's a nice guy, but... a lot of people, famous or not, are nice and sing things that speak to you. Let's face it... these fans don't really know him, apart from interviews and his music. How is that even reliable? I'm not saying he's not a nice guy, or that his songs aren't good, but... I think a lot of people are nice and good singers. That doesn't mean I'd marry them. Heck, I actually know tons of guys who are good looking, say things that speak to me, and seem to think the same way I do on a lot of things... still not walking down the aisle with them (so far, anyway.  The new year is young.) Simlarly, I've seen hate towards celebrity's girlfriends... why? Seriously people, why?That's creepy. Again, joking is one thing, but actually hating a girl for dating a guy who you were never going to date anyway? 

I've got nothing against admiring celebrities - I admire plenty myself. I've got nothing against being sad that an actress or actor in a show you like is leaving. I''ve got nothing odd with finding actor's new roles ironic. And finally, I have nothing against crushing on a celebrity, or being a bit obsessive about his or her music.

But honestly, people... celebrities are not the people you seen on stage or on screen. Really and truly.

Comments

[vegablack62.livejournal.com]

This is all very, very true.

[effervescent.livejournal.com]

A few years back (and I'm probably dating myself, here) Brian and Kevin from The Backstreet Boys got engaged and their fandom EXPLODED. I remember reading these insane posts from teenagers who had to be at least ten to fifteen years younger than the boys saying that they couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it, that they were meant to be with the boys... There was all sorts of vitriol spouted, too, directed at the fiancees. It was just nuts. I think that some fans actually believe that once they meet their favourite celeb, they'll become 'the one' for that person. -shakes head-

[akashasheiress.livejournal.com]

I remember when I was... I don't know, thirteen or fourteen? Anyway, Billie Piper (Rose from Doctor Who) was a teen pop star back then and she started dating a member of a boyband called Five (the band's name, not the boy's), and there was this particular teeny pop magazine I used to read. Well, people were writing hate mail about her. I can't remember any words, but it was vitriolic indeed.