The Medial Portrayal of Celebrities via Tabloids and Social Media. The Portrayal of a True Celebrity Self

Bachelor Thesis , 2022 , 52 Pages , Grade: 1,7

Communications - Journalism, Journalism Professions

This thesis examines why and in what way tabloid media and celebrities themselves via social media portray two different realities. Undeniably, celebrities are omnipresent. They are on posters, on book covers and in form of toys on store shelfs, but most importantly, they are omnipresent in various kinds of media. They are in movies and on TV – maybe as participants in a reality show or when taking a seat next to a talk show host, they are covered in news stories of the press and are part of the social network.

In fact, even though celebrities can, for example, be experienced on stage or on a soccer field, they mainly are experienced in the media. And the media play a very evident and crucial role with regards to the creation of a celebrity stigma around a certain person, and also with regards to how stars and celebrities are perceived. When consuming any kind of media portrayal about a certain celebrity, the media consumer feels as if he gets to know the certain celebrity.

But when comparing both, tabloid media’s portrayal and celebrities’ own portrayal via social media, it becomes evident that the portrayals of the one and the other often are very different from each other and it seems as if thoroughly there are two different realities mediated.

Even though a true self or – with focus to specifically celebrities – true celebrity self cannot and does not even exist, in some way it implicitly is (claimed to be) portrayed and also in some way is expected to be portrayed. This might sound contradictory at first but as elaborated in this paper, it actually is not.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Celebrities and their Relationship with Society and the News Media
• Tabloids, Tabloidization and Gossip Culture
• Social Media: A Shift in Power Dynamics
• Social Media: The “Online Self”
• The Portrayal of Two Different Realities
• The Portrayal of a “True Celebrity Self”
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of celebrities in tabloid media and on social media, specifically focusing on the contrast between these two platforms and how they depict different "realities" of the celebrity's persona. The paper investigates how the power dynamics between celebrities, media outlets, and the public have shifted in the age of social media and how this shift impacts the perception of "true celebrity selves."

• The role of tabloids and gossip culture in shaping celebrity narratives
• The influence of social media on celebrity self-presentation and public image
• The contrast between tabloid portrayals and celebrity-generated content on social media
• The potential for social media to empower celebrities and challenge traditional media narratives
• The concept of a "true celebrity self" and its implications in a multi-platform media landscape

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of celebrities and their ubiquitous presence in media, highlighting the influence of tabloids and social media on shaping their public image. It also introduces the research question: how do tabloid media and celebrities themselves via social media portray two different realities?
• Celebrities and their Relationship with Society and the News Media: This chapter delves into the complex relationship between celebrities and the news media, exploring how celebrities are both objects of fascination and tools of entertainment for society. It examines the symbiotic relationship between celebrities and the media, focusing on the impact of soft news and gossip culture on public perception.
• Tabloids, Tabloidization and Gossip Culture: This chapter provides a deeper understanding of tabloid media and its role in shaping celebrity narratives. It explores the concept of "tabloidization" and its impact on the dissemination of information about celebrities. The chapter also examines the cultural context surrounding gossip culture and its influence on media consumption.
• Social Media: A Shift in Power Dynamics: This chapter analyzes the emergence of social media and its impact on the power dynamics between celebrities, media outlets, and the public. It explores how social media has empowered celebrities to control their own narratives and directly engage with their audiences, potentially challenging the traditional authority of mainstream media.
• Social Media: The “Online Self”: This chapter explores the concept of the "online self" as it pertains to celebrities. It examines how celebrities utilize social media platforms like Instagram to cultivate a curated online persona, highlighting the potential for strategic self-presentation and brand building.
• The Portrayal of Two Different Realities: This chapter presents a comparative analysis of tabloid portrayals of celebrities and their self-generated content on social media. It highlights the contrast between these two realities and explores the implications of this discrepancy for public perception.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the intersection of celebrity culture, media studies, and social media. Key concepts explored include: tabloid media, gossip culture, social media self-presentation, power dynamics, online self, celebrity narratives, and public perception. The paper utilizes case studies and comparative analysis to examine the impact of different media platforms on the construction of celebrity identities and the perception of a "true celebrity self."

• College: University of Frankfurt (Main)
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Max Häussler (Author)
• Publication Year: 2022
• Pages: 52
• Catalog Number: V1304818
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346777805
• ISBN (Book): 9783346777812
• Language: English
• Tags: American Studies, Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Social Studies, Celebrity Studies