Curation

Historical perspective: The background of the cartoon consists of statues of historical figures and gods. In the past, only people with extraordinary outstanding skills (e.g. sports) were worshipped and respected. The highest paid sports celebrity of all time was a Roman Charioteer, Gaius Appuleius Diocles, whose career earnings equaled roughly 15 billion dollars in today’s money.

Critical perspective: The cartoonist believes that however in today’s society, celebrity is nothing more than a public opinion.
One intention of this cartoon is to highlight the role parents play in disciplining their children about idolization of celebrity. Encouraging or worshipping some celebrity is not helpful because things may possibly go out of hand. Parents should have the responsibility of making rational decisions for their children especially if their kids are young and incapable of making mature choices.

Likewise in our project, we will like to underline the severity of celebrity worship — the young fans may get too obsessed with idolization and parental guidance has to step in to minimize any potential consequences

Symbolic sign: From the illumnati sign at the top of the “Celebrity Worship” building and the massive crowd volume entering allow us to intepret that churches are losing the battle against the secularizing forces of media. People are following the footsteps and actions of their idols and gravitating towards the influence of the media as though as the media is a cult. Therefore, people are losing touch with their religious values.

Historical & cultural perspectives: The church has been a source of conservative moral instruction that many individuals receive. However, in today’s scoiety, the media and celebrities are monolithic propaganda machines, seeping into the consciousness of all wakeful people. As part of its programming, the media methodically touts its own industry whenever possible. Rock stars are interviewed as if their popularity translates into moral authority and even politicians forgo issues to present themselves as winsome celebrities.

Our project wants to inform the audience that an individual should have his own beliefs and values instead of worshipping the celebrity blindly and may risk losing his self-identity.