Celebrities Then And Now

In the 16th and early 17th centuries, repeated performances of Shakespeare's plays contributed to his fame. Writers gained recognition as literacy levels improved and reading became a form of entertainment. Many consider Lord Byron the archetype of "rock star status"; having drawn extensively from his personal life in his poetry, and much of his works' early successes were based on the perceived similarity between author and poem, frequently touching on sex, alcohol, drugs, isolation and exoticism. On the success of his first long poem, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Byron stated "I went to bed one night and simply woke up famous."
In the Victorian era, authors such as Charles Dickens built up their popularity by publishing their work in newspapers and magazines. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the explosion of mass reproduced images made it possible for people of lower spheres of culture such as the popular entertainment industry, to become huge celebrities.
People may become celebrities in a wide range of ways: from their professions, following appearances in the mass media, or even by complete accident or infamy. The term "instant celebrity" describes someone who becomes a celebrity in a very short period of time. Someone who achieves a small amount of transient fame (through, say, hype or mass media) may become labeled a "B-grade celebrity". Often, the generalization extends to someone who falls short of mainstream or persistent fame but who seeks to extend or exploit it. In the 20th century, public fascination with celebrities and demand for celebrity gossip gave rise to the gossip columnist, tabloids, paparazzi photographs and celebrity blogging.
The rise of international celebrities in acting and popular music originates in large part in the scope and scale of the media industries, enabling celebrities to be viewed more often and in more places. Growth in the number of media channels in the late 20th century led to increased exposure for celebrities.