Parasocial relationships: what a strage concept. I mean, just look at those questions on the little survey we were given in class. I mean "My favorite celebrity keeps me company when I watch/read the media text." Come on, what the heck does that mean?
I've always thought that people who were super obsessed with a celebrity or tv show had some kind of a problem. that they didn't want to face reality and were escaping their own life. while I've learned that this is one use for Tv and movies, I've also come to realize that parasocial relationshps can be kind of beneficcial.
One way that we use celebrities is for guidance and direction in our own lives. So, having a parasocial relationship with your favorite cleb isn't always a way of escaping life, but also a way for refferencing and learning to deal with issues in our own lives.
When I got to thinking about it, I realized that I used to have a parasocial relationship with Lizzie McGuire. I would always watch her show on the Disney channel, and I did use the show to deal with things that were going on in my own jr. high world. I would always compare Lizzie, Miranda and Gordo to me and my friends: Me, Katie and Christopher.
Another question from the parasocial relationshp questionaire I thought was strange was "When my favorite celebrity preforms, s/he seems to understnad the kinds of htings I want to know." I can now see how this related to my parasocial relationship with Lizzie. I remember watching shows where Miranda moved away after finding out that my friend Katie's dad got a job in Georgia and she would be moving in the summer. I could identify, it was like Lizzie knew what I was going through.
I guess parasocial relationshps aren't as strange or negative as I originally precieved them to be.
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