Some heroes or icons do not represent values and morals reflected by dominant social group, but they are still appealing –why?

I would like to use the example of religion in general for this question. I work with a college girl who we will call Lee. Lee talks to everyone about the Lord and how she has been “saved” and “you too should be saved or you will burn in hell”. There are also two gay guys that work in the same location as we do that she is constantly making comments to. She will look for opportunities to make comments about them and tell them they are going to hell. She wears a cross necklace and has emblems on her car. The other day some people in the store were discussing where Friday night’s adventure was going to take place. Lee throws her two cents in an begins talking about her love of Amaretto Sours and how she was so wasted last week that she was sick. She continued on for a good ten minutes talking about her experiences of this nature. I find it humorous that many people I have met use religion to fight things that they morally do not believe, but ignore the path that are supposed to follow. I mention this story because I believe the taboo is what appeals to most mainstream people. I found the article you sent us confirming. In the current TV ratings, Desperate Housewives has the highest ratings in the “Bible Belt” along the conservative states. Desperate Housewives is a show of murder, deceit, promiscuity, horrible parenting and many taboo issues. People who do not participate in those activities love the excitement that they bring. It’s safe to watch and not participate. Many shows now emulate the feelings that most people feel and not what they say or do. The example would be comparing Family Ties to Everybody Loves Raymond. People watched Family Ties and felt warm and fuzzy when Alex worked things out through good communication with his family. Everybody Loves Raymond is a popular TV show –Raymond is known for his typical “male absentmindedness” and his wife portrays the typical “controlling housewife”. He uses humor and says he is sorry and the show ends with them making up. Sort of the same idea, but with a current era twist.

Why does our culture “reach out” for heroes and celebrities?

To understand this latest evolution, one has to consider the values and family structure changes that have occurred over the last twenty years. Many children are being raised in a dual income home, which means that there are less family interactions as well as less time for the dinner talks that used to go on several years ago. Children are watching more television than ever (hence the obesity issue plaguing youth) and their role models are turning in to television icons instead of their own parents or family members. As these children get older they are thrown in to social categories and then begin to form their opinions on these celebrities and heroes through their network. For instance a group of young girls who have only interacted with their mother in passing during their formidable years would think of Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton as role models. They may model their clothing after them, their hideous accents and their little doggies. The girls would look at these particular celebrities and think that parties, promiscuity and bad English represent popularity. In contrast, a young teen that spends most of his time on computer video games in to the midnight hours instead if a relationship with his father may not be interested in celebrity icons at all. He may be more interested in the Nintendo Wii or the PSPIII and anyone who can master what he can not. I personally believe there is an epidemic in parent –child relationships.