As the global economy experiences a downturn, academic publishers have found a new growth industry: the study of celebrities. Routledge, established in 1836, is leading the way, having aided many academics in becoming well-known figures in their fields. Their website states, "We have published many of [the] greatest thinkers and scholars of the last 100 years, including Adorno, Einstein, Russell, Popper, Wittgenstein, Jung, Bohm, Hayek, McLuhan, Marcuse and Sartre."
In November, Routledge will release a 1,600-page, four-volume book titled Celebrity, which scholarly publishers expect will become a valued resource for researchers, students, and scholars interested in studying this exciting and flourishing field of social and cultural analysis. Celebrity promises to provide an extensive range of knowledge and discussion on this vast and multifaceted domain, which includes concepts such as charisma, narcissism, commodification, Marxism, structuralism, semiotics, and cultural materialism. It will also cover sociology, psychology, and the politics of stardom and interpellation. Chris Rojek, a professor at Brunel University, has led the editorial process for the book.
Rojek is also the author of a book named Celebrity, in which he explores why people like Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Hitler, and Jerry Springer are so influential and fascinating to the public. Rojek categorizes celebrities into three categories: ascribed, achieved, and attributed. Additionally, he introduces two other categories: celetoids and celeactors, which refer to one-hit wonders and fictional characters, respectively. Many scholars in the field have adopted these grouping systems.
In a separate book called Sinatra, Rojek utilizes Frank Sinatra to delve into an extensive range of theoretical and empirical questions surrounding the concept of achieved celebrity. He examines the famed singer’s life as an example of American inclusiveness and justice while also exploring his involvement with mafia members, sexual activities, and violent acts.
Writing these two books laid the groundwork for Rojek’s involvement in editing the new $1,140 (£785) Routledge book and creating a new scholarly journal titled Celebrity Studies, set to launch next year. With an ambitious goal of drawing from various periods and interdisciplinary approaches, the journal hopes to provide a deeper understanding of the compelling world of celebrities.
