Politics Or Talent?

Discussion in 'Movies & Entertainment' started by Ken Anderson, Jul 6, 2015.

  1. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    I have always been confused and a little dismayed by something that seems to be more and more common every year, and that is the interference of politics with talent, and it see it from both ends of the spectrum.

    First of all, why would the political opinions of some actor, musician, or sports star be newsworthy? Like anyone else, if someone has a pretty good argument for one political position over another, it shouldn't matter what they do for a living but, otherwise, why would anyone care what a celebrity has to say about a political issue?

    Hillary Clinton has the much sought after Kim Kardashian endorsement ... The news media actually reported that as if it was a huge plus for Hillary.

    On the other hand, why do people judge whether an actor, musician or sports star is talented on the basis of their political opinions? Why would you refuse to watch someone's movies or listen to their music because they said something stupid during a political race?

    I don't get it. Some of the most despicable people I have ever heard of are among the best actors out there, but it just doesn't make any sense for me to refuse to watch their movies. A musician can be awfully talented despite the fact that they hold political opinions that I disagree with strongly, and if a baseball player can hit a home run or catch a ball, why on earth should I care who they are voting for in November?

    Unless a celebrity's opinions are newsworthy on their own merit, stemming from intelligence and reason, they don't matter to me. I don't know why they matter to the media, but I can ignore that as I ignore most everything else I hear from the media.
     
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    Last edited: Jul 6, 2015
  2. Hannah Davis

    Hannah Davis Veteran Member
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    Oh wow, Kim Kardashian endorses Hilary Clinton, wait I should care why? Seriously, it is funny how the news media seems to think its a big deal when a celebirty endorses a certain candidate. Come on that isn't like a news paper doing it. So, why should we care what a celebrity thinks of candidates, they are just people just like the rest of us. We all have our opinions of who will support and will vote for why make it seem like the one they have is so important.
     
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  3. Brittany Houser

    Brittany Houser Veteran Member
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    The worst part about this is the fact that Kim Kardashian's endorsement would have any significant impact on anyone! :confused: I don't understand why ordinary people are influenced by the politics of celebrities anyway! The most outspoken celebs are usually the most ignorant about the lives of real people, and how our government is SUPPOSED to function. Why would anyone follow their lead about something so important? If low-info voters would just read the Constitution, and take a history class, they wouldn't have to parrot Kim or Brad or Whoopi or any of the kooks in Hollywood. Okay end of rant. :D
     
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  4. Jennifer Graves

    Jennifer Graves Veteran Member
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    Politics is so much like hollywood now that people can't distinguish between the two.
     
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  5. Corie Henson

    Corie Henson Veteran Member
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    Over here, election fever has also started even if the election is a year away. Normally, movie and tv stars will be used for the endorsement of candidates although there are stars who don't join. One such actor is the famous Vic Sotto, probably the most popular comedian, a successful movie and tv producer. His brother ran many times and won many times except once. But Vic didn't help in any way for the campaigns of his brother Tito. Incidentally, Tito is the leading candidate for senator according to the survey of a respectable pollster.
     
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  6. Jennifer Graves

    Jennifer Graves Veteran Member
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    I bet he's grateful that his brother didn't endorse him. The sense of accomplishment has to be so much greater, knowing he did on his own merit.
     
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  7. Corie Henson

    Corie Henson Veteran Member
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    I really admire people who are like that - not exploiting their popularity for political ambitions. Most of the respected actors here are in low profile mode during election. They don't want to be involved in any way in the campaign, much more be identified with a candidate.

    Just a segue, in 2004, the so called King of Philippine movies with the moniker FPJ ran for president. He was defeated by Gloria Arroyo. But that election was tainted with rampant and blatant cheating. FPJ died late that year from a ruptured vein due to massive stroke. In 2013, FPJ's daughter ran for the senate. She topped the race and is now the most probable to be the next president of our country.
     
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  8. Pat Baker

    Pat Baker Supreme Member
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    I understand how you feel about these so call celebrities. I have never understand what is so great about the Kardashian's? Who are they and why do I care? Their lifestyle has nothing to do with me and I do not understand why so many people want to follow them?
     
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  9. Jennifer Graves

    Jennifer Graves Veteran Member
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    The Kardashians really did pop up out of nowhere. It kills me that anyone knows their name. You should at least have SOME sort of talent before you become a celebrity.
     
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  10. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    To bring this back on topic, if there is any interest, my point was this. Why do people refuse to watch someone's movies because they disagree with an actor's politics? Why do they refuse to listen to a musician's music just because they disagree with something relating to his or her lifestyle? Talent is talent, and politics is another thing altogether. Some of the best actors and actresses out there are way out in left field, as far as I am concerned, when it comes to social or political issues, and a lot of very good musicians are pigs, but I'm not going to deprive myself of a good movie, or of good music, because of such things.
     
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    Last edited: Jul 18, 2015
  11. Brittany Houser

    Brittany Houser Veteran Member
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    LOL Sorry Ken! I guess we got off on a tangent there. Back to your question... I will agree with your point. There have been actors and singers, past and present, whose politics I did or didn't agree with. This generally doesn't affect my judgement of their talent or their work at all. If I loved them first as an artist, I am inclined to continue to do so. If I don't appreciate their work or talent, I won't change on that, regardless of their politics. I will however be inclined to view them differently as a person.
     
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  12. Ike Willis

    Ike Willis Supreme Member
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    Being a big fan of movies, I try hard to keep politics out of the picture. However, if I feel that by buying or paying to see a certain actor's movie's I will be indirectly supporting his/her politics, then their outta here. These celebrities often make large contributions to political parties with agendas I cannot agree with. Where do celebrities get their money? From us. Without us, they wouldn't be celebrities.
     
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  13. Jenn Windey

    Jenn Windey Supreme Member
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    Why? That's actually a great question, in the beginning I really did not care what an artist was about personality wise, or politically. After all a movie, or a song is the collaboration of many different people before it is finished. In this day and age, a musician or a singer might sound fantastic because of the expert ability of the sound engineer or the producer. i am sure we have all seen at least one Youtube video of a live performance that was not so great. In this instance I might think twice before purchasing a ticket to see a live show. In the past many performers sounded fantastic consistently because they had oodles of talent, when the recordings were done on wax there was not as much of a chance to do as much editing as they do now with modern electronics and digital enhancement. Only the best musicians and singers made it because it was expensive for the labels to produce the records. Today in comparison anyone can get a recording out there rather inexpensively. It does not mean someone has lack of talent necessarily, it just means it is much easier to produce and manipulate the end result.

    Now live performers to me is a very different issue, take this latest with Bill Cosby, he was and has been a very funny guy for years, but would I in light of these allegations pay to see him perform? Probably not, and here is the reason why... I have been to shows where there have been rabid protestors out in full force because they feel that a person should not be- or have a right to make a living in the manner they do because of some allegation or the genre of music or whatever. It is always a very bad situation and quite frankly it is dangerous. the looney tune badge goes many different ways and I always am concerned by anything to controversial. I would avoid that just out of a concern for safety and because it taints the experience. No one wants to feel harassed by an outside group or feel like they could be in the line of fire if things go horribly wrong. That does not mean that Bill Cosby was not a great comedian, it just means right now he is not as marketable because of his own deeds.

    I had someone ask me just recently about something they saw on Facebook, there was an artist, basically unknown, that was using a tag of something unrelated but very mainstream. I think with the way that marketing is done online these days you see all sorts of crazy things like that because the poster is trying to get views anyway they can. Meta tags gone wild, it becomes all about reach and if honey boo boo likes you so will all her fans. Remember in high school how it was always the popular kids that got elected for committees. Some things never change I guess.
     
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  14. Jennifer Graves

    Jennifer Graves Veteran Member
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    Political views have nothing to do with me, or the movie they happen to be in. I pay no attention to what they say, anyway. Its the characters I enjoy more then the celebrity.
     
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  15. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I do this, because I refuse to put money in the pockets of people who have an opposite agenda to mine, and are dangerous to the country. I don't care what most of them say, believe, etc., but when they denigrate the country and people with my beliefs, they're dead to me. There is plenty of genuine entertainment available, so it doesn't usually become an issue, and I tend not to follow that type of person anyway, nor be interested in their shows/movies.
     
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