Abstract 2- Celebrity Twitter: Strategies of Intrusion and Disclosure in the Age of Technoculture

This article explains how and why celebrities use Twitter as the newest form of image control in our media obsessed society. In our society today, anyone, from gossip magazines, the paparazzi, to a fan on a discussion board can sabotage a celebrity’s image or create an unfavorable persona. In the 1920’s, the movie studios and agencies tightly controlled a star’s image, but the rise of Television quickly gave way to new outlets of intrusion, such as the gossip magazine Confidential, where scandalous stories about celebrities were printed.

In our society today, it is tougher than ever before for a public figure to maintain a good image, especially with the popularity of picture/video phones, social networking sites and YouTube, where tons of information can be received almost instantaneously. Celebrities are counteracting these new mediums of intrusion by Tweeting. In other words, Twitter poses as a real voice to validate rumors and stories that may be floating in cyber space.

This article is well argued with logical reasoning, quotes from image experts and strong knowledge of the history of image in Hollywood. It offers a more thought-provoking and reasonable explanation for the rise of Twitter use in celebrities. I’ve always wondered why they would voluntarily sign up for another medium where people will be able to track their whereabouts-as if the paparazzi and entertainment shows weren’t enough. This article puts this question to rest. However, this article fails to give any examples where a celebrity has actually used Twitter to squash rumors. I believe this would have given the article more authenticity.

Muntean, Nick, and Anne Helen Petersen. “Celebrity Twitter: Strategies of Intrusion and Disclosure in the Age of Technoculture.” A Journal of Media and Culture. Vol. 12. Issue. 5. Dec 2009: 1-13. Print