Celebrity Activism: Legitimate Cause or Convenient Mumblings

Should Celebrities endorse social causes? In the light of Amir Khan opining on the Narmada issue, another question or issue that has been brought to the forefront is the right of celebrities to align themselves with social causes.

Should Celebrity activisim be seen as a flash in the pan or as an instrument to move towards something more concrete in light of the larger social cause that they stand for. Is it a reflection of Social conscious or gaining a piece of media attn.

Celebrities endorsing causes that they wish to be identified with or conrtibute to, enjoy attention of the people . Breaking through the clutter celebrities exploit attention and bring issues and facts in normal discourse and in to the public domain. Issues which we conveniently forget. Celebrities enjoy attention. Period. Their voice reaches larger section, unfortunately more than those who have been championing respective causes for years. Theses issues have been brought to the forefront in the sense of the average person questioning whether enough is being done instead of being conveniently forgotten and kept in the backburner.

But given the priveldges that a celebrity enjoys one would expect his/her conduct to be responsible and consistent. Consistency would extend to not only their views but supporting the causes over a period of time ensuring that they are a part of public discourse by leveraging their status in society.

Critics often question the intent or the motive behind a stance, whether it is the media glare through which they wish to benefit from or whether the credibility of the person is appropriate towards the cause. Effectiveness of a endorsement towards a cause can be gauged only with time.

However the one criticism that is Valid is that when celebrities support causes the larger motive of bringing facts or sending across a message meant to invoke a response, is lost with a subtle view that the celebrity is a "good guy" and in this appreciation of the intentions of the celebrity that larger picture or motive of invoking response is lost. At times conversations about the issue surround the credibility of a certain activist or celeb being a part of the cause rather than being about the cause itself.

Questions celebs about why similar causes are not being supported and why hasnt their support extended elsewhere in a ludicrous as in s self-centered society having issues being raised and constantly being monitored is worth its dose!!!