Celebritas

    Recognize the man with the beard? You probably do, even though the photograph is dated. He is the actor Tom Cruise. I photographed him receiving an award at Harvard University.
    The shoot was a zoo scene. Paparazzi showed up from New York City. Those folks were aggressive. They jostled their way in front me. Some of them blocked the views of people in the audience. I was lucky to get a clear shot.
    Paparazzi weren’t the only reason for the nastiness. The root of the problem could be summed up in one word: celebrity.
    The Latin root of that word is celebritas. It has several meanings, including crowded, multitude, fame, and renown.
      Celebrity is an unhealthy aspect of our culture, and for that matter, the world’s culture. It glorifies money, beauty, and fame. Lots of people buy into that shallowness.
     I am not acquainted with any celebrities. Nor will I cast aspirations on Tom Cruise. But celebrity sometimes turns celebrities into jerks.
    Here’s one example: A photographer friend of mine received a portrait assignment from People Magazine. His subject was a famous author. The photographer set up his lighting. A car pulled up. Out stepped the author’s publicist. But not the author. Minutes passed. My friend asked why the author wasn’t leaving the car. He was told the author was waiting for someone—the photographer—to open the door for her.
    I asked my photographer friend how he handled the situation.
    “I opened the door,” he said.
   Celebrity worship had gone to that author’s head. She had become snobbish.
   My photographer friend acted with humility (even if he was fuming under his breath).
   The Bible says, ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.’
    Celebrity jeopardizes humility.