Britney Spears and the Market of Celebrity Meltdowns

Britney Spears may not have become more famous in the past few months, but it certainly seems that way. Press coverage of her every wobbly move seems more pervasive than ever. Once again, Britney Spears is major business. This time, however, her music is not the commodity being exchanged in the marketplace; it's her life, or, to be more precise, the unraveling of her life. In other words, she is losing her mind, and other people are profiting from it.

What does it say about us as people when we delightfully feast on the destruction of one person's life? Why is there so little sympathy for someone who is clearly in the midst of a complete nervous breakdown? Granted, none of us asked to have Britney Spears in our lives, but is this fair payback? Does this merit the glee with which her meltdown is being consumed? We're all so busy ogling her downward spiral that we're forgetting to ask what's brought her to this point.

Spears rose to the top of the charts by commodifying her voice and, more convincingly, her body. Her very being was transformed into a product, but this is standard. The female pop artist is a product, and the product must perform in order to maintain market dominance. Call it Glamour Darwinism. The female pop artist must constantly reinvent herself in order to survive. Take Madonna: she has stayed alive by unveiling a new and improved product every few years. There are exceptions, of course, your Meryl Streeps and Norah Joneses, women who have not had to commodify themselves in order to succeed in showbusiness, but these are two names in a sea of objectification, and it is this sea that Ms. Spears is currently drowning in.

Britney Spears has been reinvented as a defective product. She is New Coke. She is the DeLorean and the Corvair, and she is in the middle of a major factory recall, but unlike GM, she will not have a team of lawyers or managers to bail her out. It's a fire sale, and everything that is Spears must go.

But that doesn't mean people can't make a ton of cash while the ship is sinking. Enter the Disaster Capitalists, the carpetbaggers who have shown up to sell marshmallows fresh-roasted on the Britney bonfire. Meltdowns of the Rich and Famous is a fabulous business model, provided that the rich and famous self-destruct slowly and painfully, the slower the better. The worst nightmare in the minds of those "news outlets" covering Britney's long march to the bottom is that she'll die before they're able to wring every last dollar out of her tattered life. They want a prolonged, videotaped custody battle, more inebriated photo shoots, more dazed live performances, more flab (even though she's hardly fat), more bad songs, more pantless public appearances, perhaps a failed suicide attempt or two during the holidays -- anything except death itself, because they want this product to stay on the market forever, or at least until their profits go down.

This is the sad fate that awaits Britney Spears. No one is looking to understand what's happening to her, no one is looking to help her, everyone simply wants to look, to curl up on the couch and watch the train wreck that is her life. And when the flames have been put out and the paramedics have thrown a sheet over her immolated remains, we'll speed up and be on our merry way, her pain and suffering forgotten before we reach the next rest area.

This isn't simply a matter of "pop stars are people too," or some sappy call for sympathy for a poor little rich girl. This is simply a call for honesty. This is nothing to celebrate or get excited about. This is not a comedy. This is a tragedy, and a common one. People have mental breakdowns and traumatic custody battles every day, and no one asks for it. The fact that it's happening to someone famous should not make any difference.

Comments

[kbuffler42]

The tragedy has several layers. Clearly Britney Spears has a substance abuse problem and like many who have gone before her, from every walk oflife, she is not ready to seek or accept the help she needs. AA is out there and gives her the best shot to move into recovery and become whole. That's layer 1; unfortunately our society would rather wallow in the "gaper delay" of the "car wreck" her life has become; that's what we do these days. If the wreckage takes a grisley turn we will add the layer of "fallen icon" and pile flowers and inane tributes to what we prefer to remember.That's layer 2. Until that happens we will dwell in layer 3: vicarious living. We are masters at it. Shame on us. I hope she makes it, I hope someone reaches out and she grabs on for dear life.

[KarenZipdrive]

At her VMA performance, Spears had the kind of hollow, scared look in her eye like you'd see in a dope-addled porn actress or stripper. It was very sad to see.
Britney needs to go into isolation and take some lessons from Tina Turner or Annie Lennox- two talented women with staying power.
Some people can handle their booze and dope, but Britney clearly cannot.

[sundin]

as others have said...this is what happens when you have zero talent and creativity yet are billed as a "musician"...she sold her body...now she can't do that and will seemingly settle for being a freak-show to stay in the precious spotlight...her whole "career" was an insult to authentic musicians and songwriters everywhere...when Tori Amos had a miscarriage she channeled that pain into her music and was able to move forward...a true artist could make these troubles into compelling art...but we all know that won't happen
as far as sympathy goes:
are you kidding me???
not for an artistic fraud who had the balls to say:
"I think we should all just listen to" good old G-Dubya
I feel sorry for her poor kids
she should "retire" and be a mother

[kalapa]

" Why is there so little sympathy for someone who is clearly in the midst of a complete nervous breakdown?"

A simple answer to the above question: we're not exactly abundant in the empathy department as a society. On the other hand, we have an epidemic of denial in our own lives. Most of us are not in touch with aspects of ourselves that echo what Britney's going through, so we find it easy to be critical of her behaviour.

[Aileengil]

Bravo

[MoNut]

It seems Brit has taken her little chance handed her for granted and lost the passion and drive that had her selling $30 Million albums and filling teens in stadiums.

That really isn't the paparazzi's... or Federline's... or the leaches' she thinks are friends that she surrounds herself with to get back for her.

She could be more aware of her persona... perception, appearance... Stop giving the presshounds the fodder. How many times does it have to be printed that you're endangering your children and yourself by driving around amidst rabid paparazzi? How many times does it have to be printed before you stop by the panty drawer on your way out for a night on the town? How many times does it have to be printed that you may be a wreck before you take a look at yourself?

It's not like she hasn't had the warning signs thrown at her. Madonna's tried to offer advice.... Offered to help get her performance for the VMA's together after the original idea fell through with a stylist, personal trainer, or whatever she thought she needed. But she turned it all down for Margaritaville (finally found the panty drawer though). But others can only do so much with a person that doesn't want to help herself.

While I don't agree with the way the media feeds on her, she could take the hint and stand up for herself. She could've walked out and backhanded that tasteless Comedienne for using her children as joke bait. If she had, I bet the performance would've been forgotten about, the slap being the headline, and she wouldn't be as much in the pit as she's in today.

The press should be ashamed of themselves... At least treat her like a human, with respect and, dare say, concern... What the media did to poor Anna Nichole's rotting corpse was the bottom of the barrel. Like she'd never been. Disgusting. Terrible. But, did they ever say "We hope she finds the help she needs" at story's end? Will they ever for Britney?

[Lucille]

Nay, Brit would have been arrested for assault if she backhanded Sara Silverman liked she deserved.

I agree about poor Anna Nicole. Anna was stressed out, her caesarian section hadn't healed, she had developed pneumonia that hadn't completely gone away, she was terrified of losing her baby, and she was in grief for her son. The media was pitiless and to a certain degree so was Larry Birkhead, but I think if he'd had a chance to meet with her, perhaps they could have worked it out, I read they had been e-mailing each other prior to her death.

Anyway, I also agree with you that no matter what Brit does, the press should treat her like a human being. In some ways its another form of self abuse to expose one's self to this media onslaught. Something is literally eating Brit alive, but if she doesn't get it together soon, the pitiless vultures will be crowing over the corpse of her dead or her dead career and rights of a mother.

[bethinCary]

I think it is a sick bloodsport for the media to get in the faces of these women who obviously don't know how to handle fame and celebrity-and just push them over the edge.

It reminds me of a short story I'd read in Jr. High.I think it was Poe-called "the lottery".

In this story all of the winners of the numbers drawn were stoned to death by a mob.

[abliss2379]

Yeah, in an ideal world we would all turn away from this wreck and allow her some privacy. But how ironic would it be if losing even that attention sent Britney spiraling down even faster to an early grave?

[commonsenselives]

I feel more sorry for those poor children than I do for her. She isn't even trying to give them any kind of a stable, normal exsistence. And children NEED stability.

I don't enjoy watching her unravel. However, I think its gross how humans seem to lift a person up just to crush them.

Britney has refused help because shes scared of what it entails and she should be. I think she went post-partum nuts and doesn't realize it.

[oncethere]

Bingo, Mike. This Lack of Empathy is the essence ofNeo-con Republicanism. Listen to Limbaughg or Savage and their shows are, basically, celebrations of their lack of empathy for those in trouble (except in cases like Scooter Libby or other like criminals). They take pride in their insensitivity, even elevate to a sacred ideology. They view empathy as synonomous with weakness, certainly not in the spirit of John Wayne, their hero.

No insurance, its your fault, default on a loan, its your fault.

On the other hand, I don't believe that over-identifying with the victim, which you see on the far left, is the answer.

But, the Lack of Empathy for Britney is a reflection of the America envisioned by the con talk-show hosts. The latter are, in the main, highly narcissistic individuals and one of the main features of narcissism is lack of empathy.

[shengirl]

I would disagree that "no one is trying to help her." Many have tried, her lawyers, PR people, advisers, her mother, and as one said recently, we love Britney and want to help her but she's making it impossible. Firing people at the drop of a hat [literally- that body guard], screaming at people, suing her own mother, engaging in self-destructive behaviour while ignoring any advice and any attempts to help [just look at what her headstrong ways did to her performance at MTV]. SHE is the one who is pushing people away, by alienating them or outright firing them. Now all she has left is a circle of yes-people. Yes, she seems to be a very disturbed young woman and this melt-down is tragic, but you cannot force help on anyone who is refusing it, many have to hit rock-bottom before they will admit that they DO need help. But all the enablers among her fans I find appalling. Making excuses [no, my mother never paraded around naked in front of me, drinking and doing drugs, when I was an infant and I don't know anyone else whose mother did, either]. They think they are protecting her and sticking up for her but it is the behaviour of an enabler, which only encourages her to keep on with this self-destruction. Yes we need to have sympathy for her, but all this enabling is only hurting HER, in the long run.

[Lucille]

The people who you say offered to "help her" had a vested interest and some were directly on her payroll or could make money on what she did nor didn't do. I think it's always been a matter of who she could trust and it's obvious that Brit feels she can't currently trust anyone.

Something triggered this breakdown and although its none of my business, I'm certainly interested in what that is.

[Stefano]

C'mon, Brittany is responsible got her behavior,. She is an adult, a mother, and she made a conscience choice to become an entertainer. She let it get to her head, became a "diva" and started messing with people and things she shouldn't have. The beatles were pop stars who got into drugs, but didn't let it overwhelm them and were able to constantly evolve and make important music. What we are seeing now is a little princess who from all accounts isn't a very nice person, who is in over her head, and needs to find other work and get herself help. The fact that the press is devouring her is after the fact. Going pantyless, doing coke with Lindsay Lohan, and acting irresponsible came first. I wish her all the best and hope she gets the help she needs, but I have little sympathy for a performer who thinks so little of her fans that she would go on stage and perform un-rehearsed. As a former performer (who had to rely on talent and not appearance, hence where I am today...lol), that is the height of arrogance and as a comeback, just plain sheer stupidity.

[WolfLady]

It's called Schadenfreude (epicaricacy): "delight in the misfortune of others". Schadenfreude sometimes appears to be the fuel that drives our entire culture. The more horrendous the public disintegration, the higher the ratings.
I've never thought much of Britney's transparently manufactured "talent", but I take no pleasure in watching her self-destruct. It's sad, and pitiable.
Would I want to trade places with her, even for a million bucks a month?
Never.
~Lannie~

[manifestogr]

look at this this way :

a train going from station to station without problems is not news

but a trainwreck is ...

[flatus]

Why the lack of sympathy?

Why would anyone be sympathetic for someone that spends 14 thousand dollars for a pair of sandals while there are children in the country going hungry.

[iluvsam]

"No one is looking to understand what's happening to her, no one is looking to help her, everyone simply wants to look, to curl up on the couch and watch the train wreck that is her life. And when the flames have been put out and the paramedics have thrown a sheet over her immolated remains, we'll speed up and be on our merry way, her pain and suffering forgotten before we reach the next rest area."
-Mike

Incorrect. Everyone around her has tried to help her, but SHE refuses to accept the help. SHE has made HERSELF a spectacle. Most of us watching are not enjoying the fall, but are stunned at her ridiculousness. If a young girl (or boy for that matter) from our own neighborhood was acting like she is acting, the entire neighborhood would be talking about her. Why should Spears be treated any differently than the products of our own nighborhood rumormills? It is human nature to gossip, because it allows us to communicate with each other reagrding what is acceptable and what is not acceptable behavior in our society. Her behavior is unacceptable on a lot of levels, and people have a right to talk about it. It is no different than any of us taking about the boy next door who had everything going for him, but turned to a life of crime or something. Most would be stunned and puzzled at the negative turn around, and he would be talked about incessantly. It's no different for Spears.

[Aileengil]

I am not so sure that the people that are trying to help her are the very same people who are still trying to exploit her. They all get paid if she suceeds!!!! She has been exploited since the early age of 8 or maybe younger. I do not think she knows the difference are maybe she is cutting the people out of her life who are sucking her dry. We can only speculate. How is she going to find real counsel in a person who is not interested in her money or fame or a sell to a tabloid.