Film and Media Studies Commons^™

From public personas such as Angelina Jolie to Julian Assange, this book explores the notion of celebrity status from various perspectives and discusses the way different people use their identity to deliver a specific message to the masses. Whether it be in politics, advertising or activism, celebrities play a pivotal role in drawing in the public's attention. Media – not only traditional forms such as television, radio and print, but also social media – are essential to this process. Building Bridges in Celebrity Studies is a collection of papers that address the complex interplay between celebrities and media. This book …

In the wake of the Arab Spring in 2010 and the successful Obama election campaign of 2008, the importance of social media in the communication processes surrounding protest movements and political strategies became highlighted. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube became platforms through which individual citizens shared political messages and organized collective action in the Middle East, while similar platforms were used by political organisations in the US to reach sections of society overlooked by mainstream campaign strategies. Studies of the use of social media have focused on the impact social media has on the democratic divide, its relevance as a means …