Dear Reader,
While observing this website, please keep in mind these few points. I chose this topic to research because I admire famous role models such as Audrey Hepburn. Judging celebrities before knowing their backstory happens frequently, and I wanted to break this chain. It was for this reason that I decided to learn more about Marilyn Monroe. I gained much respect for her after reading her autobiography and discovering more about her life.
Before beginning research, I didn’t know much about the psychological effects of fame, aside from what I had seen in the news about celebrities who abused substances or had negative encounters with the media. I thought it was important to understand the psychological level of celebrities before judging them on their actions.
When beginning my research, I decided on the question “How does fame affect celebrities?” but formed the more concise question, “What are the psychological effects of fame?” Deciding an appropriate research question is simple, as long as a few guidelines are considered. The question should not be incredibly simple or obvious, or answered with a “yes” or “no.” The question should be broad enough to research and elaborate on, but not so broad that the reader feels overwhelmed by information. Lastly, the question should spark interest to the author as well as the audience.
In starting the research process, my first step was to explore what kinds of resources I could find. Because the topic of psychology and fame are fairly recent, I didn’t find many physical books on the psychology of fame.There were plenty of internet resources and articles, however. Some of the more useful material came from psychology websites as well as reports done on similar topics.
Researching the psychological effects of fame opened my mind as to why celebrities act out. It always confused and saddened me that the most beautiful and talented people would essentially throw their lives away after they reached their stardom. But uncovering the reason that this happens so often was interesting.
The most challenging portion of this project was the research portion. Because all of the studies done on fame are fairly recent, I found a minimal amount of resources. Once the research was complete, I found the writing and analyzing came fairly easily. I enjoyed writing the paper and receiving feedback from peers. I found this topic incredibly interesting to research and I am glad I chose it for such a long term assignment.
If I received the opportunity to redo this assignment, I would spend more time on the research portion. That part of the project is the base to which everything else is built off of. If I had gathered more solid information, I would have felt I had more of a variety of reliable sources for my paper and infographic. As for time management, I wouldn’t change anything. I never felt rushed, and I finished everything in a timely manner. My notes were organized enough to assist in the research and writing portion, and keeping everything in one notebook was helpful.
Many times celebrities are judged on their actions, but the media only portrays the side they decide appropriate for the rest of society to see. This unjust reality is a shame for all those who take on the burden of the spotlight. The judgments made are without the full story, and knowing the whole truth may change many people’s perspective on how they view celebrities.
Sincerely,
Lily Cosgrove
While observing this website, please keep in mind these few points. I chose this topic to research because I admire famous role models such as Audrey Hepburn. Judging celebrities before knowing their backstory happens frequently, and I wanted to break this chain. It was for this reason that I decided to learn more about Marilyn Monroe. I gained much respect for her after reading her autobiography and discovering more about her life.
Before beginning research, I didn’t know much about the psychological effects of fame, aside from what I had seen in the news about celebrities who abused substances or had negative encounters with the media. I thought it was important to understand the psychological level of celebrities before judging them on their actions.
When beginning my research, I decided on the question “How does fame affect celebrities?” but formed the more concise question, “What are the psychological effects of fame?” Deciding an appropriate research question is simple, as long as a few guidelines are considered. The question should not be incredibly simple or obvious, or answered with a “yes” or “no.” The question should be broad enough to research and elaborate on, but not so broad that the reader feels overwhelmed by information. Lastly, the question should spark interest to the author as well as the audience.
In starting the research process, my first step was to explore what kinds of resources I could find. Because the topic of psychology and fame are fairly recent, I didn’t find many physical books on the psychology of fame.There were plenty of internet resources and articles, however. Some of the more useful material came from psychology websites as well as reports done on similar topics.
Researching the psychological effects of fame opened my mind as to why celebrities act out. It always confused and saddened me that the most beautiful and talented people would essentially throw their lives away after they reached their stardom. But uncovering the reason that this happens so often was interesting.
The most challenging portion of this project was the research portion. Because all of the studies done on fame are fairly recent, I found a minimal amount of resources. Once the research was complete, I found the writing and analyzing came fairly easily. I enjoyed writing the paper and receiving feedback from peers. I found this topic incredibly interesting to research and I am glad I chose it for such a long term assignment.
If I received the opportunity to redo this assignment, I would spend more time on the research portion. That part of the project is the base to which everything else is built off of. If I had gathered more solid information, I would have felt I had more of a variety of reliable sources for my paper and infographic. As for time management, I wouldn’t change anything. I never felt rushed, and I finished everything in a timely manner. My notes were organized enough to assist in the research and writing portion, and keeping everything in one notebook was helpful.
Many times celebrities are judged on their actions, but the media only portrays the side they decide appropriate for the rest of society to see. This unjust reality is a shame for all those who take on the burden of the spotlight. The judgments made are without the full story, and knowing the whole truth may change many people’s perspective on how they view celebrities.
Sincerely,
Lily Cosgrove