Descriptive Essay: Celebrity Inc. and Fame as a Commodity

Imagine, for a moment, that you are an up-and-coming actor or actress starring in this season's hot new show or new blockbuster film. Almost overnight, your recognition and future job prospects have skyrocketed. But, as you know, Hollywood is a notoriously fickle industry. What is hot today is routinely discarded tomorrow. Thus, it might be smart to think of ways to capitalize on your success beyond simply acting. But how? How do you approach your newfound fame as a commodity—how do you manage yourself as a brand? In a concise descriptive essay, describe the ways in which, according to Jo Piazza's Celebrity Inc., you might maintain, even expand, your new success. For example, what are some of the lucrative options open to you outside of acting? How might you capitalize on endorsements, charities, Twitter, even feuds? Finally, what, according to Piazza, are some of the potential pitfalls in building your new brand? Cite from Celebrity Inc. to support your thesis.

Requirements:

• MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
• 3-page minimum
• Include a works cited page

The best papers:

• Have a title that articulates the essay's point of view
• Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
• Have a concise thesis which clearly illustrates a plan for building on one's new success
• Are written in a first-person voice that is casual, yet informative
• Clearly support their thesis with evidence that vividly describes the steps to building one's  brand
• Conclude with a summation of the argument
• Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
• Are in compliance with MLA Style

Due: Mo 04.15