Cherished colleagues are known to deplore the cult of celebrity, particularly when good runners, singers, toadies and assorted prats are awarded Honours for our pains. But soft! What light at yonder window (etc.)? Allegedly it’s all in the genes – the latest and greatest excuse for almost anything you deplore.
So see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23046602 – wherein the evolutionary tale is told.
In the dark ages social status was determined by skill at hunting, shooting and fishing, which explains why the great and good anno 2013 still set store by such qualities.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose – again!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Hello Janus: Doesn’t seem to work in the more developed countries.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23061391
Janus, bring me a mammoth steak and a sabre-tooth tiger skin coat, and I will sing your praises.
Talking of fame. Another landmark in the life of the Chariot has just been passed without any fanfare. Small in number our congregation may be, give yourselves a slap on the back fellow Charioteers. 350,000 hits. That’s more than Elvis, the Beatles and Nena put together.
Well played, everyone
Sheona, here in the clearing I’m tempted to go feral with my diet – venison, hare, pheasant, wood pigeon – so don’t hold your breath! 🙂
“Fame is a powerful cultural magnet. As a hyper-social species, we acquire the bulk of our knowledge, ideas and skills by copying from others, rather than through individual trial-and-error. However, we pay far more attention to the habits and behaviours demonstrated by famous people than those demonstrated by ordinary members of our community. ”
Rarely have I read such utter drivelling bullshit as promulgated by this lickspittle henchman of the bastard broadcasting creeps.
No one worth their salt would dream of being influenced by a rag tag band of half witted, immoral, ill bred vulgar peasants that purport to be ‘celebrities’. In fact I would have thought that such would likely put the kiss of death on any object they chose to endorse!
But then I do not subscribe to being part of a hyper social species! The qualification for which is obviously an IQ sufficiently low to be a fully paid up member of the knuckle dragging, prehensile toed, receding forehead neanderthals commonly known to pay their BBC licence fee.
Pray tell me what does the likes of Beyonce have in common with a dark age hunter? About the only thing she needs to hunt is a correctly fitting bra!
Beyond!
Fame now seems to be an easily acquired commodity, though perhaps the word should be notoriety. I see names in newspapers which I have never heard of before and in many instances I can’t decide on the sex of the person. An example is Kendal Jenner, or possibly Jenner Kendal. What is it? What does it do? It doesn’t sing like Frank Sinatra, that’s for sure. An old friend of mine, a drama teacher, tells me she despairs of some of her pupils, whose sole aim is to be “famous” without putting any work into it.
Christina, I recommend Carl Hiaasen’s book “Star Island” for a good laugh at this quest for fame by those lacking in talent.
Beyond Beyonce! Is there life after her/it?