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Christopher Romero

Mrs. Litle

ENG 121001

13 Mar 2019

Expanding on Turners “The mass production of celebrity”

In the article, “The Mass production of Celebrity: ’Celetoids’, reality TV and the demotic

turn’” written by Graeme Turner, Turner makes many points about the mass production of

celebrities, Celetoids, and how it has taken a demotic turn. Turner asks these questions about the

media to understand it properly along with many other points. I agree with most of what Turner

has stated; however, there is a point that Turner states that I do not agree with, the main point

that the ‘demotic turn’ is not producing democracy is something that I do not agree with. The

media is available to so many people, which proves the media is democratized.

In section one of “The mass production of celebrity”, Turner tells of how he “coined the

term ‘the demotic turn’” (153). He does this as a means to refer to the increasing clarity of the

fact that ordinary people are turning themselves in to celebrity or media content that is exploited

throughout social media platforms such as DIY, Reality TV, Radio talk shows, etc. (Turner 153).

Turner establishes that he has an interest in analyzing a structural shift in the media, especially

western media, and the explosion of celebrities, Reality TV and others. Turner is also interested

in if the provocation for coining of the term, “The demotic turn” reflects that or shows that it is

something more fundamental then contemporary fashion in the media (154). In other words,

Turner wants to know if the change in the media has affected the way it is set up because the

explosion of famous people in Reality TV and other media sources make the term or incitement
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of the term “The demotic turn” being important that it was created and reflects shows or

introduces something more important than contemporary fashion in the media (Turner 154).

In section two of the article Turner explains how he is not the first individual to notice

this programmatic shift in media forms like television and the internet. Turner goes on to explain

that this so-called programmatic shift is from “elite to ordinary” (Turner 154). In other words,

this shift is people that are extremely talented and extremely rich were being focused on by the

media, but this focus has shifted from those types of individuals to the ordinary people or people

with little to no talent (Turner 154). An example of this shift would be how people like Justin

Bieber are not being focused on as much anymore as someone like the “cash me outside girl”

Danelle Brigoli.

The next main point in section two of this article would be the explanation of what

celetoids are. Turner explains that Chris Rojek is the creator or inventor of the term “Celetoid”

(Turner 156). Turner then explains what celetoids are: celetoids are pieces of media centered

around massive communications and staged authenticity some examples he uses are “lottery

ticket winners, one hit wonders, stalkers, whistleblowers, people that streak, have-a-go-heroes,

mistress of public figures” and other types that are in the spotlight one day and forgotten the next

(Turner 156). Also, in section two Turner states that, “I agree with John Hartley […] available to

media consumers.” (Turner 157). By this Turner means that he agrees with John Hartley that the

media has become more open to diverse groups of people allowing more ordinary people to

become famous inspiring more self-determination (157). But Turner disagrees with Hartley

when he says how in his opinion the demotic turn is not producing democracy. It is producing or

generating lots of programing or subjects for the media to focus on (Turner 158). Also, what the

media gains from this diverse source of programing mining is that it gains an infinite amount of
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diverse performances or subjects that you could say are disposable being that people get famous

and not shortly after are forgotten or not focused on by the media (Turner 158).

In response to the article “The mass production of celebrity” I find myself agreeing with

Turner in many ways; however, I do find that I also see a point at which I find my self

disagreeing with Turner. First, I agree that the term “the demotic turn” is important for being

created because it makes referring to this subject much more efficient (153). The term “The

demotic turn” means that or is a means to refer to the turn or shift in the media from elite to

ordinary and the democratization of media and celebrity’s reality TV and other media sources.

The term “The demotic turn” can also refer to the increasing view of ordinary people becoming

famous and how the demotic turn reflects something more fundamental than contemporary

fashion in the media (Turner 154). For instance, the demotic turn can represent a situation such

as more and more outrageous and ordinary media content being spread across media platforms

such as Snap Chat, Facebook, Instagram, musically, and many other platforms that focus

attention on these types of media (Turner 154). I feel this demotic turn can help explain many

things in the media such as to why there is so many useless or unimportant subjects being

focused on by the media (Turner 154). The demotic turn helps by making it easier to refer to this

standpoint or idea and to help inform society of this turn in the media.

When I see this demotic turn in media I can now recognize how things are played out and

recognize these types or forms of media throughout my daily life. For example, I notice on social

networking programs like Facebook that there are more and more ordinary people becoming

famous giving me the realization of the demotic turn in the media. I feel this recognition is

important because it helps me determine what is real and fake within the media and it is
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important that others can begin to be able to tell the difference between fake and factual

programing. By others seeing this importance, using me as an example, I find that others may be

able to recognize that the demotic turn in the media can be very important especially in today’s

world where scams and unfactual information is very common.

I also agree with this programmatic shift which is the shift or transition from people that a

have lots of talent and are able to make a steady career out of there talent to people with little to

no talent that are forgotten after a short time in fame (Turner 154). I feel there are lots of benefits

from this shift for instance this shift can open up areas in the media like opening up jobs for

lower- and middle-class personalities. This shift also brings benefits with the unlimited supply of

people that can be focused on by the media. There are many people throughout media that are

exploited through many ways such as news and social media platforms. Ordinary people are

being made famous or popular but then go unnoticed or are forgotten by the media soon after,

which are referred to as “Celetoids” (Turner 154). These celetoids or type of people I speak of

are benefiting from this but there are also some downsides. Because these individuals bring

different types of cultures into many people’s daily lives which I think helps promote diversity.

We can look around and see that the media is influencing our daily lives and celetoids like

Danelle Brigoli aka “cash me out side girl” bring negative influence. Younger generations

idolizing some one that has gotten popular from miss treating her mom which in my opinion is

morally incorrect.

When Turner states “the demotic turn is not producing democracy what is it?” and then

goes on to say that the demotic turn produces programming and unlimited amount I disagree;

although, I do agree with the fact that the demotic turn is in fact making or producing unlimited

programing or infinite subjects for the media to focus on and make profit from. But I disagree
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with the statement or inference that the demotic turn is not producing democracy. I feel the

demotic turn is in fact producing democracy because of the fact that the media is now available

to almost everyone enabling people from all cultures and class to exploit themselves and earn a

profit. For example a person like my cousin Josephine Romero aka “Ransom” after using

celetoid type techniques but having real talent has efficiently used this democracy in the media to

her advantage to become famous and make a steady career as a musical artist.

All in all, I agree with Graeme Turners article except at one point where he infers that the

demotic turn does not produce democracy. Because Turner provides credible factual information

explaining the stance he is taking. But also because I look around myself and notice this

democracy and programming the media is producing with my own eyes. Understanding Turners

article is important so we can grasp or understand more clearly what the media is doing in todays

world. Do you see celetoids in your daily life? Next time you scroll through Facebook or

Instagram think back to this information and try to notice the things like celetoids or this

programmatic shift to help you recognize important changes happening in todays media.
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Works Cited

Turner, Graeme, “The mass production of celebrity: ’Celetoids’, reality TV and the ‘demotic

turn’.” International Journal of cultural studies,9,2,2006,153-

165.Sage,10.1177/1367877906064028,Feb 25 2019.