Would you support a digital celebrity?
QuHarrison Terry
International Best-Selling Author | Growth Marketer | 4x LinkedIn Top Voice in Tech
Recently, I was reading an interesting article about the importance of digital celebrities from Michael Dempsey:
At a glance digital celebrities make a ton of sense to me. Especially, from a health standpoint. As Jay-Z once said "fame is the worst drug known to man." Therefore it doesn’t take the powers of a Sherlock Holmes to come to the conclusion that fame often turns people ugly. The limelight notoriously exacerbates people’s faults, turning the slightest mishap into national news.
Which makes me wonder: is there a better way for us to "celebritize" the artists we love?
Well, it’s too early to know for sure. But, digital humans are making an interesting case for how they may lessen the problems associated with fame.
Essentially, digital humans are the offspring of Photoshop, social media, and storytelling. They are digital creations that live their lives through fictional stories and digitally-designed avatars. They have dense backstories to make them more relatable. And many of them express themselves through artistic means.
For instance, Hatsune Miku is a Japanese digital human that expresses herself through pop music (the video featured below).
Meanwhile, Lil Miquela (see her picture below) expresses “herself” through fashion and dabbles in a bit of electronic music.
Both of these digital humans are on the cusp of celebrity-status, garnering the followings of over a million people. Especially in the times we’re living, this is a trend that will really catch on.
First of all, to gather a following today, there’s no need to be physically present. Musicians can reach millions of fans on Spotify without ever playing a show. Artists can reach millions of eyeballs on Instagram without ever putting an exhibit together.
Digital humans have just as much an opportunity to reach celebrity status as any regular person. And they have teams behind them too.
Just like a popstar might have songwriters, stylists, and PR strategists behind their brand, digital humans might have artists, storytellers, designers, etc. behind them.
But what’s different here, is that the fame is separated from the individual.
Think about it. Digital humans cannot succumb to hubris. They have no ego. They aren’t conscious. Sure, the team behind the digital human (the designers, the storytellers, the singers, etc…) may slightly feel the success. But, not to the degree of an individual person in the spotlight.
To me, digital humans becoming the showrunner of celebrity is a great evolution of society.
It gets people out of the destructive, public eye – thus lessening the chance of those horrible downward spirals we often see celebrities take.
Not to mention, the creation of art is for the artist, while the publishing of art is for the audience. Who cares whether or not there are a dozen people and a digital face representing this art. If it pulls at your heart’s strings, then it’s doing its job.
I don’t think it’s the downfall of celebrity. It’s an evolution. In fact, there will continue to be the “flesh” celebrities and digital celebrities. To each his own. No different than how some people may prefer to watch cartoons over dramas.
Now that I’ve made my case for digital humans entering the fold as celebrities, I ask you:
Would you support digital humans as celebrities?
If you found this article interesting and want more content on the future of technology, head over to QualmTimes.com
I'm?not sure if we're not already?doing that by supporting real celebrities that act as hosts for brands and endorsements.
Technology Concierge Services Manager at AllyAlign Health
6 年No, I don't even support real celebrities lol
Operations & Innovations Manager | Fashion and Apparel | Circularity | Sustainability | Strategic Development
6 年My life isn’t that pathetic, so I’ll pass. But I don’t follow or support celebrities, thankfully
Real Estate Development & Property Management, Costa Rica >> Content Expert >> Marketing Strategy >> Business Development >> Airbnb Host, Costa Rica
6 年What’s the difference? Unless you happen to be hanging out in person.
Information Systems Manager- Technical Manager-IT Consultant (MIS) Specialized Degree Programs
6 年Yes!??