For most folks fame comes rarely, if ever. Only a few people ever rise above the sea of obscurity, either from their own effort or by the grace of others (or some combination of the two). In the Internet age, this process of fame-making has taken on a whole new dimension, with the advent of alternative paths to fame such as YouTube. Still, culture remains transfixed by mainstream shows such as American Idol and America’s Got Talent. What are we to think of this? Thankfully, we at BF are here to give you some ideas. This episode we were joined by BF newcomer Margaret Kammer alongside mainstay Kevin Saunders. Apologies on the delay! School waits for no one. Enjoy the episode…
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This Week’s Post-Show Song Pimpage: “Kenesaw Mountain Landis” by Jonathan Coulton
15/02/2010 at 6:24 am Permalink
I shall continue my recent trend of posting the first comment.
I love Bobby Darin, especially the song “Artificial Flowers” (upbeat depressing songs are awesome!), and the conversation in this BF reminded me of a scene from the movie “Beyond the Sea”, which is the Kevin Spacey movie about the life of Bobby Darin.
Bobby has recorded “Dream Lover” and “Splish Splash”, and he’s a big rock and roll hit with the teens. But he’s not satisfied. He tells his manager he wants to be a star.
His manager says, “You don’t have to prove anything! You’re a star already!”
“Is that what you think? Hold on a sec.” Bobby turns to a delivery guy passing in the hall. “Hey, kid! I just have a question, c’mere. Will you look at me?”
“What?”
“Just look at me. Do you know me?”
“What?”
“Do you recognize me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do I look familiar to you?”
“No, you don’t. I don’t know you. Will you leave me alone? I got things to do.”
“Thanks pal.” Bobby turns back to his manager. “When the delivery guy knows me, then I’m a star.”
I think that scene is a good example of the levels of fame, and how someone can go from one level to another. Back then, he wanted to go from only being known by teens, to being known by the general populace. Now, it’s people who want to be known by everyone, rather than just being known on the Internet.
I also thought I’d mention that I’m seeing Jonathan Coulton live for the first time on this coming Sunday. I’m excited! Even though I have to be in the crowd, with all the other plebeians, rather than on stage, like the great and wonderful Stephen Torrence, who looks down on all the rest of us from high above.
And, lastly . . . where on Earth did Banana Pancakes come from?! Now I want pancakes . . .
17/02/2010 at 1:30 am Permalink
*shy wave* This is the first time I’ve ever commented on a podcast.
What you all are doing is amazing. Please keep it up and keep having fun with it. Your podcasts make my insomnia so much nicer to cope with.
Thank you.
21/02/2010 at 2:31 am Permalink
I remember the first time that I saw a star-struck fan and, watching her, I found that I couldn’t understand her behavior without describing it as a sort of insanity. It was years ago at an ice rink in Southern California. I was sitting next to my Mom and untying my skates after a skating lesson. The rink was open and letting in the general public for skating. A man in a knit cap and ordinary clothes hurried into the rink, quickly paid, laced on his skates and got out onto the ice. He looked like he just wanted to skate. A woman came into the rink and looked totally out of her element. She was wearing outside clothing, not anything anyone would expect for going ice skating, she was wearing a skirt down to her knees, no tights or jeans to keep her legs warm, and she rented skates and didn’t even lace them on correctly. She fell all over herself to rush out onto the ice to chase after that fellow in the knit cap. It was so rude. I mean, he was just minding his own business and this total stranger goes and bothers him and all for what? I wouldn’t want that kind of fame, but you know what? As rude as that fan was, William Shatner smiled kindly at her and gave her his autograph. I stopped skating at that rink in 1970. Fame is strange, people are attracted to it as a goal and people are attracted to the people who have it. I was still just a child when I witnessed this fanatic behavior, but it impressed me with the importance of polite structures we have in society. It impressed me with the value of etiquette in smoothing interactions within society. It warned me to take care to not behave like a rude fool without consideration for the feelings of a famous total stranger.
23/02/2010 at 4:38 pm Permalink
This is my first comment as well.
I’ve been listening since November-ish when I saw Stephans video posted on Tumblr, but I’ve never had anything to say.
Today, while listening to this podcast I wanted to call in to talk about internet fame
(yes i’m aware that this not live). I’m a Nerdfighter as well, and for as long as I have been listening I thought for sure you guys would be too. The thing that I would add is that a lot of people on YouTube don’t care about having a million fans, and would rather have a few thousand really good fans. Also, YouTube gives you the power to control your own rights, so you can release new content when ever you want, rather than dealing with the the media industry like “America’s Got Talent”
Internet Famous is very different than TV famous, and I agree that it’s only a matter of time before there is some change.
DFTBA