Autobiography before the age of 30?

from JoeUser Forums
In the world of celebrity the key word is 'ME'. Everything is about ME and ME alone. I suppose considering the attention they recieve their idea of self worth is inflated a great deal. Not always rightly so. Celebs get alot of attention. They get alot of attention, for the wrong reasons. The media builds hype around them, and the only thing worse than that is those that begin to believe their own hype. They begin to believe that their opinion matters more than the next persons. That they can tell you how to live your life, give you advice about religion, and expect you to blindly follow, and why? Because they are a celebrity! Duh! I don't mind celebrities, we the public are just as guilty as they are at inflating their egos. We sit and stroke it for them, and then expect there to be no reactions! Haha...life doesn't work like that.

Now in recent times celebs aren't just people we see on the tv, people we see in the media. They are actual business people. They have clothes lines, they invest their money into all kinds of things, selling an image. They do all kinds of things, I guess a name can sell extremely well. The one that gets me the most is the celebrity autobiography. Not just any autobiography, but those of the stars that write their autobiographies before they have even hit the ripe old age of 30. In my opinion that is completely ridiculous, and nothing more than a money making scheme. I am sure that 30 year olds have a story to tell. I am 22 and I have a story to tell. We all do. However surely an autobiography is for when you have lived your life, and you have the WHOLE story to tell. Isn't that much more interesting?

Young celebrities no doubt live exciting lives. Lives that most of us can only dream of living. They will see things, and go places, and experience things that someone else of a similar age probably won't have. I am not taking that away from them. To write their life story at such a young age, just seems quite self indulgent to me. That they presume people are interested in their lives. That they somehow manage to think are more important than they actually are. Unfortunately, people are interested. Now I have read some wonderful autobiographies, that have been very interesting. When I look at some of the young people who are producing these I do wonder what they have to say for themselves. Their communication skills don't always come across very well, and I wonder how they manage to fill a book, full of their thoughts and feelings, and all about their life.

If these people have lead such interesting, exciting lives, why not wait a little longer, so maybe they could inject even more wisdom into their life story, and make it something they are truely proud of. Something that their childrens, children can read. Something they can read proudly, and know that it is because they want to share an interesting story, rather than they just want to make money. Fans will always want an insight into someones life. They will always be grateful to get just a little bit more information about their chosen celebrity. Celebrities know this, and I suppose at the end of it all, they are just business people. Money matters.
entertainment
5,370 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Young celebrities no doubt live exciting lives.


Agreed, but I think a lot of them are about as deep as a glass of water.

To write their life story at such a young age, just seems quite self indulgent to me.


Me too. I always thought an autobiography was the sort of thing one wrote in order to pass on some hard lessons life has taught the individual. A lot of these young celebs wouldn't know hard if it hit them on the head.

If these people have lead such interesting, exciting lives, why not wait a little longer, so maybe they could inject even more wisdom into their life story, and make it something they are truely proud of.


Then it would make what they had to say at least somewhat relevant. But as you say, in the end it comes down to money.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Agreed, but I think a lot of them are about as deep as a glass of water.


Hehe...well said!

I always thought an autobiography was the sort of thing one wrote in order to pass on some hard lessons life has taught the individual. A lot of these young celebs wouldn't know hard if it hit them on the head.


Most of them are just filled with their sexual exploits!

Thanks for the comment x
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh, pish posh! When I write my autobiography, it will be released in volumes. I'll have people selling sets door to door, like encyclopedias. There's plenty to write about at each stage of life.

What I don't get, though, is when they give out "lifetime achievement awards" at that age (as in, Leo DiCaprio a couple years back). I mean, if they peaked before 30, they're in BIG trouble!
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh, pish posh! When I write my autobiography, it will be released in volumes. I'll have people selling sets door to door, like encyclopedias. There's plenty to write about at each stage of life.


Hehe, that made me giggle! Reserve me a copy Gid plz!

What I don't get, though, is when they give out "lifetime achievement awards" at that age (as in, Leo DiCaprio a couple years back). I mean, if they peaked before 30, they're in BIG trouble!


I believe it's because there's a lack of people to give them achievements too. Usually because they consider the wrong things to be an achievement. I'm young, hot and good looking, give me a reward god damnit!
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

I agree with Gideon.  There is no problem writing volume 1, before you are 30.  Stevendedalus wrote his in volumes.

But I disagree that Celeb lives are exciting.  Frankly, other than answers to trivia questions, I find them quite boring.  I find real lives to be much more exciting and interesting.  But then the fact that SJ was popular in HS is not going to make Jeopardy anytime soon.  But that is what fascinates me.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree with Gideon. There is no problem writing volume 1, before you are 30. Stevendedalus wrote his in volumes.


Yes I agree, but I think that some celebs just don't actually have anything of a great significance to say for themselves before the age of 30.

But I disagree that Celeb lives are exciting.


Well I am sure their life is more exciting than mine. If I compared myself to the awful Paris Hilton for example, I'm sure she has seen and experienced much more than I have, even though we are both a similar age.

But then the fact that SJ was popular in HS is not going to make Jeopardy anytime soon. But that is what fascinates me.


I do get this. I also like seeing the more human side of celebs and what makes them just like us.

Thanks for the comment xx
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Do you watch "Inside the Actor's Studio?" It used to be about talented, experienced actors and entertainment industry people sharing their life's lessons with the students there. Once NBC bought the Bravo network, though, they've been doing exactly what you describe, interviewing 20-somethings with absolutly nothing to say. It is just a vehicle for industry cashcows.

Biographies are the same now. They are like action figures and t-shirts, just another niche in the marketing bonus column for assets. If you make a kid movie, you bring out action figures for the fans. You have a celeb that gets mentioned on Entertainment Tonight more than once a month, you milk the fans by bringing out a book with their picture on the cover, whether or not there's anything of merit to put in it or not.

It's the same for scandals and crimes, sadly. Books are just one part of the "How can we turn fame or infamy into cash" phenomenon.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Once NBC bought the Bravo network, though, they've been doing exactly what you describe, interviewing 20-somethings with absolutly nothing to say. It is just a vehicle for industry cashcows.


I haven't seen that show, but I know shows like it. Unfortunately these kind of shows are in demand. Obviously someone thinks these people have something to say. I'm a similar age, but I like to think I have a little something more to say than them.

They are like action figures and t-shirts, just another niche in the marketing bonus column for assets. If you make a kid movie, you bring out action figures for the fans. You have a celeb that gets mentioned on Entertainment Tonight more than once a month, you milk the fans by bringing out a book with their picture on the cover, whether or not there's anything of merit to put in it or not.


Exactly, they are just something else you can collect. Instead of being insightful and thoughtful, they are yet just another way to make money and that's what gets me. Fair enough if you have something interesting to say, make money from it, but it's just like selling your soul for what you can get. It isn't like these young stars are short of money!
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
There must be some vicarious need being filled by having such books on your mantle or in your home library. I can't imagine people buying them for their content. What could they possibly say that People Magazine hasn't already told us?