Princess Diana and Voyeurism
Perhaps the best way to think of it is as a war. On one side are the Hollywood stars with their armies of agents, managers, lawyers, publicists, handlers, personal assistants and, of course, bodyguards. And on the other side are the paparazzi - guerrilla warriors armed with cameras, whose job it is to break through the stars’ defenses, steal small parts of their souls and sell them to the highest bidder. The lengths to which paparazzi will go to get “the shot” are legendary - hiding out in trees, digging through garbage and spitting on the stars in order to shoot their reactions. Car chases and helicopter surveillance seem to be routine. And there’s very little the stars can do about it. Even the paparazzi who were trailing Princess Diana that hot August night, one of whom called 911 while the others recorded the scene for both posterity and prosperity, got by with a slap on the wrist, if that.
The car crash that killed Princess Diana and her companion Dodi Al-Fayed early Sunday, apparently as paparazzi trailed the couple in Paris, follows a series of run-ins between celebrities and those who take their pictures for big money. Witnesses said news photographers, probably freelance paparazzi, were pursuing the couple on motorcycles. A witness told CNN that paparazzi were taking pictures of the wreck within seconds of the crash, and that one of the photographers was beaten at the scene by horrified witnesses. According to news reports, seven photographers were in custody after the accident. (Edwards, 23-4)
Chasing celebrities has become a big-stakes proposition for many professional cameramen, worth incurring the wrath of those luminaries who want some personal space left to them. Richard Wood, in his article "Diana: the people's princess", said a single photograph of Diana could have been worth thousands to tens of thousands of extra issues sold for its buyer. "She has always been a main news story for the newspapers of this country," Swift said. "The whole country, indeed the world, has a deep fascination for everything she does. And she was and will remain one of the most popular figures in the world" (Wood, 3).
While sympathy and fond remembrance for the 36-year, often star-crossed princess poured in from around the world, there was an undertow of anger at the media, whose obsession with Princ...
... middle of paper ...
...s Press, 1998. p. 54-8
Dyer, Richard. Heavenly Bodies: Film Stars and Society. London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1986. p.2
Edwards, Anne. "Ever After: Diana and the life she led." Journal of Female Biographies. London: St. Joseph's Press, 2000. Vol. 22. p. 23-31
Levine, Michael. The Princess and the Package: Exploring the Love-Hate Relationship Between Diana and the Media. Los Angelos, CA: Renaissance Books, c. 1998.
p. 52-86
Morton, John. "Feeding Reader's Tabloid Appetites." American Journalism Review. New York: Sept. 2002. Vol. 16. p.49
Mulvaney, Jay. Diana and Jackie: Maidens, Mothers, Myths. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000. p.39
Squiers, Carol. "Class Struggle: The Invention of Paparazzi Photography and the Death of Diana, Princess of Wales." LTCS 170 Class Reader. p. 297
"Tabloid Frenzy." [videorecording]. Producer and director, Desmond Smith; writers, Desmond Smith, Fred Langan; produced by Newsco in co-production with CBS Newsworld. New York: Cinema Guild, c.1994
Wood, Richard. "Diana: the people's princess." Colombia Journalism Review. New York: St. Martin's Minotaur, 1998. Vol. 34. p. 3-7.
When one thinks of becoming a princess or even royalty, the idea of the magical childhood, fantasy wedding and perfect marriage, seems to accompany the indication of a royal, but yet this was not the case for Diana. Ever since she was eight, her parents had been divorced and little Diana just “longed for the love of a united home” (Wright). Her school grades were not up to par, “an academically below-average student” (Princess Diana Biography Biography) and her family life was in shackles, so later becoming a princess and huge icon was such a powerful message for those with rough starts; this was not the first stereotype she would break. From straightforwardly addressing tough, international medical issues to her torn personal life, the people sympathized with her, because she was such real, true and honest princess. When Diana entered into the public view by her marriage to Charles, her life appeared to be perfect especially when followed by two, healthy sons, William and Harry, but...
Shock waves went around the world when news spread that the ‘people’s princess’, Princess Diana of Wales had died. On August 31st, 1997, she was involved in a car crash and sustained serious injuries, passing away four hours after the collision. Official investigators concluded that it was an accident, caused by the driver’s alcohol levels, and pursuing paparazzi. In comparison, a conspiracy theory suggests that the crash was orchestrated by the British Secret Service, as ordered by the Monarchy.
...her and the more modern case of Brian Walski demonstrates the importance of ethics in the mass media. With the public dependent on photographers for images that will give an accurate and true representation of the facts, in some cases even leading to such important decisions as giving relief aid, waging war, or determining votes in an election, it is vitally important that journalistic images be true and unaltered likenesses of real persons and events. Even apparently innocent misrepresentations, designed to create a better image or better prove a point, can have serious consequences for the photographer, the subjects of the image, and the public. It is a reminder of the importance of honesty in all professions.
...uld be justifiable to emphasize that a good number of them find it sickening to miss the limelight. . Nonetheless, it goes without mentioning that celebrities get exploited because some gossip stories explore the things that would otherwise be considered to be private.
The American paparazzi have been described by celebrities and the news media as scum-of-the-Earth—mean, intrusive scavengers who feast upon other people’s misery (Saltzman par. 4). Imagine taking a walk with your children in a secluded hiking trail. You are trying to enjoy the peace and serenity that the beautiful day brings, but, as fate has it, you are a celebrity. Along with your fame come fans constantly asking for your autograph, people gazing and staring at you, and ultimately causing a scene wherever you go. However, today you found some time alone to enjoy a few moments of solitude or so you thought. Far off in the distance, you see a determined photographer ready to complete his quest of getting some shots that will turn a nice profit for him. As you rush to the car, you tell your kids to hurry. The seconds get shorter and the photographer closes in on his victim: you. His camera flashes in your face. The flickering lights hurt your children’s eyes. The photographers, or more appropriately, the paparazzi were just taking pictures in a public place so were they really breaking any laws? [Add Halley Berry] It has been proven that paparazzi tactics of hunting icons have led to trespassing, behavior constituting assault, and invasion of their targeted celebrity’s privacy (McNamura The paparazzi have gotten out of hand, and their antagonistic behavior, intended or not, should be restricted.
No major celebrity can avoid them. Emerging from cars, entering glittering parties or trying to take a secluded vacation, the glamour figures of the '90s are hounded mercilessly by the men-and a few women-who wield long lenses and a brazen shamelessness (Maclean, 38). Today, paparazzi's tread on private property, film celebrities during intimate moments, and even go as far as stalking a public figure.
...cians and Creating Celebrity. The media and political process (2 ed., p. 126). London: SAGE.
Even twenty years after her death, the world continues to remember the princess who perpetually remembered them. Princess Diana lived as one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. She devoted her life in the spotlight to bring recognition to causes that she felt others should care about, such as AIDS, homelessness, leprosy, and landmine removal. Diana believed that love and kindness served as the remedy for any sort of suffering. She once stated in an interview with BBC journalist, Martin Bashir, “I think the biggest disease this world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved. I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month—I’m very happy to do that and I want to do that” (Roisin Kelly). While the matter remains certain that people were initially starstruck having a princess in their midst, it is undoubtedly Diana’s kindness that attracted and continued to attract beings to her presence. She held the hands of those deemed unsafe to touch and broke down stigmas in the process. Diana became a hero for those who had no one to speak up for them, or the trials they endured, through simple acts of kindness, such as a warm smile or a gentle handshake. While Diana aided those around her, she herself desperately craved love and kindness, as discussed in the following quote from the New York Times’ Article, “Diana in Search of Herself”. “Indeed, Diana's unstable temperament bore all the markings of one of the most elusive psychological disorders: the borderline personality. This condition is characterized by an unstable self-image; sharp mood swings; fear of rejection and abandonment; an inability to sustain relationships; persistent feelings of loneliness, boredom, and emptiness; depression; and impulsive behavior such as binge eating and
Princess Diana once said,“I would like to be a queen in the hearts of the people.”, and if there is anything she has done it has been to take over our hearts with her compassion and generosity. Princess Diana dedicated her life to helping others and using her fame to do it. She was humane and humble never seeing herself above others, even as royalty. This considerate woman would show up to hospitals just to talk and encourage people with her kind words. Princess Diana supported more than 100 charities in her lifetime, although she mostly impacted AIDS/HIV patients and landmine usage.
Death and the Maiden discusses Princess Diana, her media, and her public from the point-of-view of Maureen Dowd. Was Diana the spendthrift of her own celebrity? Is the media a market of vultures feeding off of Diana? Does the public actually have any remorse for the Princess? There is no right or wrong answers for these questions because they are merely opinionated.
In the world of pop culture, people look up to a myriad of interesting, talented, and inspiring peoples who influence the world. Singers, actors, athletes, celebrities, they all are relevant contributors to pop culture. People look up to them, discuss them, and read articles about them. The media showers these peoples with questions, compliments, and criticism. No other story is as inspiring as the story of a shy girl, born under the name of Diana Spencer, who became a symbol of generosity, wisdom, peace, and love for the world. Princess Diana, who married into the Royal Family, was one of the most influential and popular people in this world.
In addition, if someone was fallowing you, taking pictures and bullying you every day single day, you would instantly report them to the police and they would without a doubt get the stalkers arrested, and they would get a restraining order. But if a celebrity calls the cops saying that there is someone following them and harassing them, no one is willing to protect them, because they are not able to stop the paparazzi for good. It 's like all celebrities are being punished for being rich and successful. Nobody deserves
Princess Diana was born into a royal family and had a rather tough time growing up. She was the youngest daughter of Edward Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and, Frances Spencer, Viscountess Althorp. During her parents' bitter divorce over Diana’s mother’s adultery with wallpaper successor Peter Kydd, Diana's mother sued for custody of her children. Diana went into many battles with her mother over this which led Diana to dislike her mother. Diana’s father’s rank was supported by Diana’s grandmother, on her mother’s side, in which her testimony against her daughter during the trial, meant custody of Diana and her brother went to their father.
To begin with, the paparazzi’s first line of protecting against is nothing unfamiliar in this democratic homeland. “We the people” have a right to understand who these persons are that we contain in high regards. This entitles them to pursue any subject of interest particularly those that are legally regarded to be public numbers. Celebrities naturally are subject to the loophole in the regulation of right of privacy. As many odd laws that there are, the big dangers to the people in this country are not taken care of. Celebrities’ kids are insulted by the photographers. At age six, Suri Cruise is just as photographed as her famous, now divorced parents, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Children at that age are commonly camera ...
The gossip industry has become popular in the last few decades. Our society enjoys knowing about the lives of celebrities. We obsess over celebrities on gossip websites, and even obsess to the extent of stalking these celebrities. This industry has impacted our culture immensely. It has tainted our culture in several ways from creating bad role models for our children to making stalking an everyday affair; either way, the media has changed our society greatly. The gossip industry has brought new entertainment for our pleasure, but it has come with negative consequences.