Mini Project #5- Mandy Dollar

I believe that fame is much more than entertaining people and making lots of money. Sure, that’s wonderful, and while it does happen, I believe that there is an element that is sometimes overlooked: immortality. There are images that will be forever ingrained into people’s minds. Think about Marlon Brando in “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” (“Stella!”), Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe. All of these actors have passed on, however, their images continue to shine now and even when we are long gone.

I think that people’s reasoning for seeking out fame for this reason makes sense. Nobody wants to imagine a life without them in it. Nobody wants to feel that the world will keep spinning without them. We, as human beings, live within our own worlds and when our world ends, we expect everyone else’s to end as well.

In Hollywood, a place where image is everything, I believe that there is a desire to be famous so that a person’s ever-so-important image is preserved forever. The entertainment industry is all about defining oneself through one’s looks. No wonder, then, that actresses and actors depend on these films and television shows to provide them with the comfort that they will always be known as young and beautiful. Fame serves as the fountain of youth in Hollywood, which is appealing to everyone and anyone.

Also, speaking from an only-child’s point of view (my deep dark secret, by the way.) there is a pressure when you are the last one left to keep “it” alive, whatever “it” may be: traditions, a family name, etc. For example, I am the last “Dollar”, ever. My Uncle doesn’t have children, and I am a girl, which means that my name won’t carry on when I get married. I have had so many people tell me not to give my name up- to keep it alive. We, as a society, work hard on maintaining an image that will last forever. Just look at pictures. We spoke about photos and people who are obsessed with taking pictures of every event that happens in their lives. Part of the reasoning behind this is to capture a memory, but to also preserve a moment in time when a person can show a granddaughter or grandson how they were “when they were young”.

I also believe that society has a tendency to rush through life. We take pictures today to show our family years down the line. We save money in trust funds so that we can have it years from now. We are constantly looking ahead and trying to preserve today for tomorrow. No wonder movies, television, and music are so popular- they act as time capsules. They enable people to transport to another time and place in the time it takes to put the TV on. It’s an attractive offer and a key reason why people want to leave a legacy.

In the end, I believe that people want to maintain a legacy because of fear. They are afraid to be forgotten. They are afraid that they won’t matter to anyone once everyone they knew is gone. People want to feel as though they mattered and that they made a difference in this life. By preserving these legacies, it provides a way for people to cheat death even when they are dead and gone.