List of Headings
- i Why it is necessary to explain the meaning of the word 'celebrity'
- ii The influence of non-human celebrities on societies
- iii The impact of broadcasting on concepts of celebrity
- iv Creativity having greater value
- v Admiration for physical achievement
- vi The advantages of celebrity status in the ancient world
- vii A result of hardship
- viii Literacy and widespread celebrity
- ix Attitudes of celebrities towards the media
- x The original definition of celebrity
Passage
Drag a heading to each paragraph.
1. The word 'celebrity' has its roots in the language of the ancient Roman civilisation. It is derived from the Latin word 'celeber', meaning 'frequented or populous'.
2. The capabilities of the ancient world were the powerful and awesome deities of Greece and Rome, and the citizens of these civilisations believed in a vast number of immortals who had a direct impact on their lives.
3. Victors in the ancient Olympic Games were treated as heroes and were often elevated to god-like status.
4. The miraculous lives and fascinating deaths of spiritual figures lent excitement to the lives of common people when there was often little else to be excited about, as they faced war, disease and food shortages.
5. As Europe emerged from its long neglect of the arts, there was greater appreciation for portraits, statues and stone carvings. This period of appreciation for the arts lent a sense of celebrity to artists who were noted for their works and their personal achievements.
6. The increase in the availability of the written word was accompanied by a huge rise in the number of common people who could read, allowing a mass audience to find out about celebrities for the first time.
7. The emergence of reality television shows in the late 1990s allowed all kinds of people with little ability to enjoy a short burst of fame on the television screen. All you needed, it seemed, was an attractive appearance.