James Franco wrote an op-ed in the New York Times about Shia LaBeouf’s recent antics. I have to say, I have never been a fan of Franco but I can appreciate the lack of fucks he gives about his public persona and utter indifference toward celebrity expectations. I think Franco makes many interesting points about the nature of celebrity and why its biggest stars (like Miley Cyrus, Shia LaBeouf or Kim Kardashian) can be the most insufferable.
It isn’t a new revelation that celebrities are picked apart from top to bottom and all it takes to convince me of that is recalling some of things I’ve said about celebrities privately and in public (“Robert Pattinson looks like he smells like fish,” is a statement that I championed all throughout 2010) or read any celeb gossip headline or any comment on this website about Miley Cyrus or Beyonce or talk to any friend I know. Look no one is above gossip (maybe Jesus, the Dalai Lama and someone’s grandma are above) but more than anything no one is above celebrity gossip, which is why it’s a billion dollar industry.
James Franco first explains some of his more bizarre acting choices,”In 2009, when I joined the soap opera “General Hospital” at the same time as I was working on films that would receive Oscar nominations and other critical acclaim, my decision was in part an effort to jar expectations of what a film actor does and to undermine the tacit — or not so tacit — hierarchy of entertainment.”
This is something I hadn’t thought about, “As an actor, you are often in the uncomfortable position of being the most visible part of a project while having the least amount of say over its final form.” This is why good actors are in bad movies sometimes?
“Because film actors typically experience fame in greater measure, our personas can feel at the mercy of forces far beyond our control. Our rebellion against the hand that feeds us can instigate a frenzy of commentary that sets in motion a feedback loop: acting out, followed by negative publicity, followed by acting out in response to that publicity, followed by more publicity, and so on.” This explains a lot of why young Hollywood is perceived as “rebellious.”
“Participating in this call and response is a kind of critique, a way to show up the media by allowing their oversize responses to essentially trivial actions to reveal the emptiness of their raison d’être. Believe me, this game of peek-a-boo can be very addictive.” This couldn’t be more true. Every time a celebrity gets a haircut it’s big news. Imagine having hundreds of articles written about you because you made a funny face while sneezing. For some that’s exciting, for others that can be a personal hell.
While I do think we are too harsh with our expectations of celebrities and how ravenous the paparazzi can be, I have to wonder if things will ever change? When you have this many eyes looking at you, it’s nearly impossible to avoid speculation. Everyone does it, even here, James Franco is making speculations about Shia LaBeouf’s intentions. No one is above celebrity gossip, not even celebrities.
James Franco Wrote About Shia LaBeouf And Perils Of Fame
