James Bennett, a leading academic in television and digital culture at Royal Holloway, University of London, claims young people stand to learn a lot from celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna because they can “spark debates” about morality and cultural issues. Bennett says they should be encouraged to take interest in celebrity life and culture to better understand such broard and challenging topics as politics, morality and the economy. (Source: The Telegraph)
1. This academic argues that students can learn important lessones from such life events as Angelina Jolie’s breat cancer surgery. What can they learn from a celebrity’s health crisis that cannot be learned from someone in their family, church or community?
2. This academic argues that students can learn important moral lessons from Jolie’s and Madonna’s foreign adoptions. What can they learn from celebrity adoptions that they cannot learn from adoptions that occur within their own faith communities?
3. This academic argues students can develop a better understand of media and public relations by tuning into celebrity events. Are such lessons an accurate representation of reality? Are these valuable lessons, or are the more destructive in nature?
4. What other questions would you pose to students to get them to think critically about Bennett’s arguments in light of a Christian worldview?
