Cult of personalities: Almost 25 million people have visited Graceland since Elvis’ death in 1977; Beyoncé has 134 million followers on Instagram; and over 46 million adults read People magazine every week. Why do we care so much about famous people? In her new book, Sharon Marcus looks at The Drama of Celebrity, starting with eccentric Victorian superstar Sarah Bernhardt, who slept in a coffin in her youth, and was “as famous in her day as the Beatles in theirs.” UVA professor and Slate pop critic Jack Hamilton speaks with Marcus about her exploration of fame and the way it’s carefully crafted by journalists, the public, and celebrities themselves.
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C-VILLE Writers | May 1, 2024
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By Thomas Crone Willi Carlisle has a healthy respect for the past, modeling his career, in part, on the folksingers of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s—people who traveled a self-made circuit of coffeehouses, clubs, and theaters that catered to a hip set. Pete Seeger, in particular, is someone who Carlisle feels kinship toward, though he […]
C-VILLE Writers | May 1, 2024

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C-VILLE Writers | May 1, 2024
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C-VILLE Writers | May 1, 2024

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C-VILLE Writers | May 1, 2024
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