Unlikely the often messy,complicated relationships between “normal people”,many loyal fans consider celebrity couplings the paragon of romantic relationships – something to live up to and learn by.
Yet,of course,celebrity relationships can be just as volatile and dysfunctional – just look at last year’sHarry Styles/Olivia Wilde/Jason Sudeikis drama.
So,why are some fans obsessed with who their favourite celebrity is dating? And why does it shake their world to the core when theLove StorybecomesBad Blood?
Dr Diana Sandars,a fan studies scholar at The University of Melbourne,says famous pairings are a lucrative device used by the entertainment industry. A “perfect” relationship inspires fans while distracting them from the celebrity’s conscious branding.
“Historically,the entertainment industry has used romance mythologies – the foundations of stardom – as a means of concealing its condition of production,” Sandars says.
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Love,a universal emotion,makes celebrities seem relatable and accessible to the “every man”. Fans loyally follow a celebrity’s quest for true love as an additional form of entertainment – a means to wash away the monotony of “normal” life.
Melbourne-based Swiftie Stefanie White says the bond between Swift and her fans is particularly strong given her open and transparent lyrics. They mimic hushed conversations with close friends or entries in a diary,inviting fans into her private world in an unprecedented way.
“We kind of feel like the third wheel in her relationships,” White says. “It’s kind of like when your friend is dating someone you don’t like and can’t help but gossip about it with others. It’s juicy.
“Seeing them in relationships gives us a little window into their universe. It makes us feel like they’re just like us,” White says. “Taylor[is] a true hopeless romantic and knowing she was in a loving relationship felt like everything was right in the world.”
TheKarmasinger is like each fan’s best friend,White says,a “trusted sister” that you ride the highs and lows beside. Although she admits fans are secretly excited about the new lyrics this heartbreak will likely inspire,she says they feel genuine sympathy for Swift who is currently battling a universal condition:the pain of that heartbreak.
One dedicated Swiftie,who only wanted to be identified by their first name Fran,runs aTwitter account devoted to Swift. Fran says the longer someone follows a celebrity,the more invested they might become in both their professional and private lives.
Thanks to celebrity tabloids,social media posts,and blogs,fans can’t help but follow each award won,every scandal endured and each person flowing in and out of their lives – just as they would with your own peers.
“I’ve been a fan of Taylor since 2012,so she’s basically family and I care about her happiness,” Fran says. “She went through a lot[her feud with Kanye West,theEras Tour ticket chaos,etc.] ... and Joe loved her when nobody did. That’s why I loved them together.”
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