With the popularity of reality TV shows, online gossip and tabloids, the world seems to be more interested in celebrities than ever. The fascination with celebrities often reflects a fascination with wealth, beauty and success, but it also can lead to cyberbullying, invasion of privacy and the perpetuation of toxic behaviors. Celebrity news also can obscure important issues in our society, such as inequality and social justice.
The celebrity culture we know and love today can be traced back to the pages of print publications. During the early 20th century, newspapers like The Sketch and The Bystander covered high society events, providing readers with glimpses into celebrity lifestyles. This coverage fueled a fascination with stars and contributed to the evolution of modern celebrity culture.
In the early 1900s, Sarah Bernhardt, a popular stage actress and public intellectual, emerged as a cultural icon. Bernhardt capitalized on several advancements in technology, including photography, steamship and railway travel, to increase her fame and reach. She was able to leverage her image as a symbol of prestige, glamour and sexual power to promote herself, her career and her personal interests.
Now, with the help of digitized historical periodicals, researchers, students and fans can explore the rich print history that gave rise to celebrity culture and better understand its societal impact. With ProQuest, delving into the roots of this fascinating phenomenon has never been easier. Explore our extensive collection of digitized historical magazines and discover how the allure of celebrities was first established in print.