The Truth Is.....I AM Iron Man

"I'm just not the hero type, clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, mistakes I've made - largely...public...." Tony Stark, "Iron Man"



With all the power and influence that prominent public figures wield, to what extent to they actually TRY to be “heroes”? The music and entertainment industries particularly reach a large audience of impressionable youth, and often in interviews with rock/movie stars the question of influence as a role model pops up. If you’re talking to Beyonce or Britney, the answer seems to be (strong Southern accent) “You know, I just try to be happy and be a good person and have a positive attitude”. TRY being the operative word here. If you’re talking to Avril Lavigne, it’s “Being true to myself and not letting haters make you feel like you have to suppress who you are” (even if you’re a posing emo wanna-be ‘hardcore’ rocker….oh sorry, does that count as hating?). 50 Cent would probably just straight up kill you for asking then stand over your lifeless body yelling, “How’s THAT for being a role model foo??”



Paris Hilton would be too drunk to understand the question, repeating “that’s hot” while intermittently puking.

Either the music and entertainment industries attract the morally questionable in the first place, or it makes them that way. I’m leaning towards a combination of both….kids that have musicians or movie stars as role models don’t know whether that person’s character is actually admirable. They’re attracted to the fame, obscene wealth, and power. Kids don’t tend to realize that many in the music industry are starving artists, scraping by on construction/waitressing jobs while they wait for someone to notice how brilliant they are.



On the other hand, do stars even HAVE a responsibility to be role models? They didn’t become famous for their upstanding character qualities. Mass marketing one’s own creative talents is the hardest business there is, especially when the products are solely aesthetic. There is no real USE for music or art of any kind. It's a high demand for a very abstract and subjective idea….and either you’re born into the industry or it takes years of struggle and hard work to make it anywhere. Once they DO make it somewhere…sometimes they go a little crazy. Perhaps too often they lose sight of what they learned on their way to the top. But should they be expected to behave well in public just because young kids look up to them? Musicians and movie stars achieved success in a business that rewards cutthroat, underhanded, unsightly behavior to get ahead. Only the most vicious survive. They should almost be congratulated.



Almost.



If you’re looking for a role model, perhaps you should choose Barack Obama. Or Iron Man.