Eminem: Making of a Celebrity
Popular music has become an essential part of the American (and increasingly global) youth culture especially since the 1960s and the era of Elvis Presley and the Beatles. The music has branched off into different forms and genres since then and has become an important part of what is generally termed "pop culture." Initially, an American trend created through the interaction of the community, artists and the music industry it has gradually taken on a global shape and grown to become a major money making enterprise. Commercialization of music has made it necessary for the industry to create stars and celebrities. This need has given rise to the phenomenon of the "manufactured celebrity." Apart from the commercial factor, there is also an urge in the contemporary society to have such 'stars' that can be followed, and worshipped. This urge is more pronounced in the adolescent and the youth and is part of the growing-up process. Due to the unprecedented development of communication and media technology the appeal and reach of such celebrities has grown tremendously. Hence, such popular figures now command a wider audience and have a more widespread influence than they used to in the past. Moreover, they fulfill an important need of the people (especially the youth) of hero-worship and as objects of love. They also evoke other more complex emotions to become hate objects, objects of ridicule, and derision. Celebrities are often the catalyst that set-off major changes in fashion, style, and taste and are mirrors of the culture they live in. This paper traces the life and career of one such celebrity -- Eminem a.k.a. Marshall Mathers -- the controversial rap artist cum actor. It will also attempt to explore the reasons behind the artist's rise to his present peak of popularity. Is he a 'manufactured' star created by the handlers, managers, spin-doctors, and the media? Or is he someone with charisma, and special talent? Or is he just a creation of circumstances -- a need of the American public?
Early Life
Eminem was born on 17 October 1973 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA to a teenage mother Deborah who named the baby Marshall Bruce Mathers III. ('Eminem' represent the initials of his name (M & M) that he adopted while starting his singing career). His father abandoned the family while Mathers was still a baby and was raised by his single mother. "I don't know who my dad is. He left when I was a few months old and I don't want to see him now" says the rapper. While growing up, Mathers and his mother rarely lived in one place for more than six months, often having to change houses to dodge landlords demanding rent from his unemployed mother. At other times they lived in trailers or stayed at relatives' homes in cities such as Warren and Kansas City, Mo. He thus had an unsettled and unhappy childhood and never got around to make friends. He was a timid child and was once beaten so badly by bullies that he was in a coma for nine days. Predictably he retreated into his comic books and television. ("Eminem" All Stars Celebrity).
Discovers Rap & Leaves School
The best thing that happened to Mathers during his unhappy childhood was when his uncle Ronnie introduced the nine-year-old to rap music. He recalls now that Ice-T's "Reckless" was the first rap song that he ever heard. His other favorites were LL Cool J, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. When Mathers was 12, his mother finally settled down on the east side of Detroit. There, he attended Lincoln Junior High School and Osbourne High School, hanging out with friends and listening to the 80s rap music. He got into many fights while in school and didn't concentrate on acquiring an education. Skipping school became an art form that led to his failure in the ninth grade, (3 times in a row) and he finally dropped out of school altogether. ("Eminem" bio from MTV.com)
In the period after he left school, he got involved in several shooting incidents and was even arrested once. Another incident that affected the youngster deeply was the sad suicide of his uncle Ronnie -- the only stable role model he had. Mather was devastated but he found solace in practicing rhythm rap and working several minimum-wage jobs, including that of a grill cook. He also began dating a tall blond girl named Kim (the one he 'kills' in one of his songs: '97 Bonnie & Clyde.) The couple also had a daughter (Hailie Jade) in December 1995. He continued to develop...
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