Kate Demoder looks back on the rise of vulnerable celebrities, from Jonah Hill’s recent documentary with a psychiatrist to Prince Harry’s explosive memoir.
in the opening scene of stats, a Netflix documentary about leading psychiatrist Dr. Phil Stutz put together by actor Jonah Hill, Hill jokes about a phrase Stutz often uses when he walks into a treatment room. “Your s**t on me” and more.
Hill’s belly laughed, explaining how he tried to document therapists “during one session a day,” and his unique visual model of therapy — a tool that had a seemingly large impact on Hill. and methods of teaching – elaborated to share.The importance of speaking internationally.
Your consent is required to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to set cookies on your device and manage additional content that can collect data about your activity. Please review the details and agree to load the content.Manage settings
Stutz’s methods are crude and unusual, teetering between swearing, teasing Hill, and reverting to his former drug use, a chaise longue teased too often in ’90s soap operas. It is similar to the antithesis to the “contraction” behavior that borders on the .
In the 90-minute piece, Hill said:
Because you have a generous and positive philosophy, and you want to help others and create the hidden strength that many desperately need.
In a strangely similar vein, actor and pop star Selena Gomez went through a rough time in her life by making a documentary in 2022.
My Mind & Methe same as stats, are two contemporary, unforgiving, hyper-metiterations of celebrity documentaries that cater to streaming audiences and focus on moments where public vulnerability is celebrated. Neither have traditional redemption arcs or character development, but instead talk about the non-linearity of mental health and growth.
of my mind and me, released in November on Apple TV+, in which Gomez talks about her experiences with bipolar disorder, lupus, anxiety, and psychosis. Much of her apparent trauma remains untold, but most notably the ramifications (still present today) of her puppy love breakup with teenage pop icon Justin Bieber. Gomez and director Alek Kesisian uncover a myriad of truths. It is one of the noblest states a person can become.
statsBy contrast, also released on Netflix in November, he spoke with his longtime therapist, Dr. It’s a great exercise for the brain,” Hill summarizes in the article).
The pair develop an immediate and near-voyeur intimacy by inviting the camera into the safe space of the therapist’s office. But this time, Hill turns the camera on the stats, detailing his life and ideas while also revealing a little bit more about himself.
The antihero video is here, written and directed by me. Watch my nightmare scenarios and intrusive thoughts play out in real time https://t.co/3ieastDifu pic.twitter.com/h5mpzVLKDY
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) October 21, 2022
The author considers this move to vulnerability to be groundbreaking in its authenticity and clearly a countermeasure to the way we have lived. Now, instead of blatantly edited photo shoots, he posts ugly selfies on photo dumps, and instead of sharing promos, he jokes about IBS with a stranger and her on Twitter.
It is reflected in the way we listen and speak today. Recently released songs by Taylor Swift anti heroOn Her “Intrusive Thoughts,” Adele, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande unraveled their experiences of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks for a raucous audience.
Megan Thee Stallion has anxiety I launched a website dedicated to mental health. Even Rihanna, the paragon of cool confidence, admits to having occasional bouts of anxiety.
Our inescapable celebrity obsession has allowed this idea to coalesce in a gale, leading us to share experiences and bring ourselves into it. , established at the point of maximum mutual vulnerability.
the funniest scene in statsthis writer believes Hill is about 25 minutes into becoming visibly frustrated and talking about injustices within the project. Put it there for the sake of it and show a green screen behind him and his screen partner.
“We’ve been shooting this for two years, suggesting this is just one day at your office,” he says. “This isn’t even your office. It doesn’t even look like my hair anymore.”
Exposing these insecurities, removing the perfection factor, removing the physical act of vulnerability, is restructuring. stats, as an important exercise for creating more content. Further content was produced and posted in an open letter when Hill refused to promote the film. deadline“If you go out and advertise and it makes you feel bad, you’re not acting true to yourself or the movie.”
It is indeed a noble act and a necessary act. However, we cannot help but witness these as empty acts. Most notably when idolization and paycheque are involved. That said, talking openly about your psyche and healing journey does little good. Hill does this, grappling with the media’s impact on his self-image as an “overweight and acne-prone” teenager.
At one point, Hill’s mother attends a session to discuss their respective struggles with weight and body image.
The global media outrage and the expected burden of notoriety are also examined. Harry & Meghana six-part documentary series created with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The Netflix deal, which is reportedly worth between $100 million and $150 million, is an outward act of vulnerability on the terms of the former senior British royal family. It seems sought-after and frustratingly enduring because it does more to criticize the media and sharpen the unwanted effects of being in the spotlight than to provide crude and realism to a walled life. I feel like
The greatest documentary debut in history.
Harry & Megan. Streaming on Netflix pic.twitter.com/iF7hP83c3x
— Netflix (@netflix) December 21, 2022
Marketing morality itself has faced reckoning in recent years. It asks you to seek deeper meaning and question yourself in ways never before possible. Who made my clothes? Where do my tips go? What causes does this corporation support?
In a world where activists have become famous for the first time, the same is expected of those we admire. It’s a spirit that aims for good, but bad things were born.
This, sadly, led to the great apathy this writer seems to have. people who are
No doubt Selena, Jonah, Taylor, Meg, or any former British royal senior wanted to share their stories for the greater good, but similarly, their teams carved out a niche and trend-watching. Do and, in essence, get capital – led them to the light and cash along the way.
Just like the icon of feminist empowerment did. Now I have a question. After all, are celebrities doing something wrong when exposing vulnerabilities? Most likely no. It’s actually revolutionary. But the system that houses it is corrupt and becoming more transparent by the day.
Perhaps the best thing we can do at this stage is collect the crumbs we dropped along the way and ask ourselves how we got here. was it the internet? Divisive politics? COVID? Perhaps the pendulum has turned in favor of cultural vulnerability. Because those at the helm commanded it to do so. Our needs have enabled us to serve those in power, helping them to endure conditions that have made them comfortable since the dawn of time.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ.
