They Are People, Not Gods

Magot P. Makhor Akech

A 22-year-old South Sudanese student

in Beijing

Today, it's quite clear that young people are generally obsessed with celebrities, but one often can't fully understand how and why we got here.

Actually, obsession is not just a choice, but in many cases it is related to a person's psychological state. When you are stressed, depressed, lonely, need to be loved, need to love or need to prove your worth, there is always a gap in that needs to be filled. Even the most positive and stable people admit that a few things are missing in their lives.

Celebrities seem to have got it all: desires, dreams, goals and materialist lifestyle. These make one wonder how it would feel to have all of these even for a day.

Take a look at how celebrities influence culture. The pop stars adopt a new style, wearing new things, and all the youngsters admire and embrace it, no matter how ridiculous the trend may look. This makes people feel like they belong; it makes them active participants of a specific culture.

The obsession creates a "parasocial relationship" in which a person invests emotional energy, interest and time in the person they are attracted to, whereas the other side is completely unaware.

So, is it healthy to be obsessed with celebrities? My answer is that it depends on the physiological state of a person. There are people who may need to get away with the negative things in their lives, such as stress and depression. This makes them stick to watching TV shows, listening to music, etc., which can lead to addiction. There are also others who are idle, lonely or in need of love. They admire celebrities, thus developing parasocial relationships.

However, we should always be conscious that these celebrities are people like us and should in no way be worshiped like idols. Imagine getting concerned by the conditions of a celebrity who isn't even aware you exist, a point that I always remind myself. Think about it.

Being a Fan

In a Rational Way

Ding Yu

A 27-year-old company board affairs assistant

in Beijing

Being a fan of celebrities is a way to let out emotions and escape temporarily from real life. It can help us alleviate the pressure from study and employment, and it can invigorate and motivate us to lead a positive life. Therefore, I believe obsession with celebrities to a reasonable extent is very important for young people.

During the fight against COVID-19 in Wuhan last year, for example, I was touched by many young nurses, not only for their selfless dedication, but also how they were encouraged by their idols. On the back of their protective suit, they wrote "Fan of Jay Chou," or "Fan of Lin Junjie," both renowned singers, among other celebrity names. Idols have the power to provide spiritual support for people in difficult situations. As a popular phrase on the Internet goes, "The hand of an idol can reach out of the screen and wipe away my tears."

I am a fan of Lay Zhang. Since his debut, I have watched him in interviews, variety shows and performances countless times, and bought his albums and concert tickets. I have the feeling that I have accompanied him during his growth in the entertainment circle. Or rather, we have been growing together. Whenever I feel frustrated, I would think that there will always be a person in this world who is still working hard for his dream under tremendous pressure.

However, I have never tracked his personal schedule, nor have I scolded those who attack him on social media, something those so-called "brainless fans" would do. I think it is essential for fans to set boundaries in an era when many fans would do crazy things such as digging deep into celebrities' private life, madly paying for products they endorse, and abusing other celebrities or their fans on the Internet. Think of your idol as a force to drive you to study and work hard. That is the rational way of being a fan. CA