Let me preface this commentary by stating I am no fan of the music of Britney Spears. But for what ever reason, mostly hype promulgated by the media and exploited by her handlers, she became "Super" popular and along with it, a relentless barrage of paparazzi and "Page 6" sensationalism. This for an immature teen, in combination with weak and unguided or sensible parenting and selfish promoters, producers, and likely friends, was a recipe for something she was quite incapable of dealing with effectively. Sure, some can handle it well, few though. But to watch as this child turned adult was mercilessly inundated with the superficial glitz of super stardom, unyielding media attention and only god knows why, recording industry popularity slide into personal chaos while everybody just watched and drooled to report it is a sad testimony to both the people who for enormous profit put her out there and the media for gloriously documenting it.
This is a child of pop culture, a notoriously inept measure of talent and as fickle as a politician running for office. As a result, her demise was treated as fodder for the purpose of selling papers, sound bites and pixel bites. It’s like standing around while someone is choking and debating how to or who should help while the person expires.
I am personally insulted and grossed out by the cartoon depiction of Britney Sears by Sean Delona in the 1/3/07 NYPost: http://www.nypost.com/delonas/delonas.htm?year=2007&month=10&day=03. My goodness how we so superiorly berate and denigrate people for the amusement of others. It is precisely for this type of typical behavior by our media that we continue to stand by and accept as valid this sort of treatment of people. Does Britney Spears deserve to take responsibility for her behavior? Emphatically, of course, in part. But where were her parents, her friends, and her family who no doubted basked in the sun clamoring along side her while watching her fall? What happened to, “It takes a village?” What happened to compassion? My child is at a conservatory earning her BFA in theatre. I can only hope that she never becomes as “Popular” as Britney Spears has so as not to be slammed as ferociously by the media as she has been if she even so slightly screws up. But I also believe in my heart, as does my wife, that if she, “makes it”, she has the strength to overcome the mass media manipulation that poor Britney was incapable of dealing effectively with. Who are we, or should I say you, Sean Delona, to cast such a malicious light on her? God forbid someone should be waiting for you to trip up. I guess a spoonful of arrogance and hypocrisy help the “mediasin” go down!
I personally wish her well
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