Celebrity Death: A History (Patreon)

In the 20th and 21st centuries, how have prominent celebrity deaths changed our world? What do our responses to celebrity death say about us? By discussing the deaths of stars like Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Kurt Cobain, and more, I seek to put our celebrity obsession into perspective. Be sure to watch the other episodes of Celebritea, like a Short History of Celebrity and The Anatomy of Stan Culture! 

Enjoy exclusive early access to this video, which will premiere on youtube next week! 

Sources and Further Reading

Celebrity: A History of Fame (Susan J. Douglass and Andrea McDonnell)

3 ReasonsWhy We Mourn Celebrity Deaths (Deborah Carr)

Celebrity Deaths (Daniel Harris)

The “Latin Lover” and His Enemies (Gilbert King)

Reactions to Rudolph Valentino's Death

Dying Like a Star: Marilyn Monroe's Life and Death Previewed the Opioid Epidemic (Emily B. Soule)

Marilyn Monroe Finds End of Rope: A Natural Tragedy

Arthur Miller's Essay

Suicide rates rise after funeral of Princess of Wales

Why did Diana’s death cast a pall on so many people? (Kathy Sheridan)

Celebrity's Death from Cancer Resulted In Increased Calls to CancerBACUP

Diana: Death of a Media Styled Secular Saint (Joke Hermes)

Princess Diana's funeral: All the celebrities who said their final goodbyes

The death of Princess Diana: a week that rocked Britain

Social Media Rituals: The Uses of Celebrity Death in Digital Culture

Why America’s obsession with celebrity deaths will only intensify in 2017

Screaming, Fainting, Unplugged Jukeboxes: How Memphis and Media Reacted to Elvis’ Death

Did Kurt Cobain's Death Lower the Suicide Rate in 1994?

Wall-to-wall media coverage of Jackson receding

Obama on Michael Jackson - why no official statement?

Why Rock Hudson’s Decision to Come Out Marked a Turning Point of the Aids Epidemic

TMZ scolded by police for breaking news of Kobe Bryant's death before family could be notified

Do Media Outlets Write Obituaries for Old or Ill Celebrities in Advance?

Celebrity Deaths May Trigger Suicide

How the World Reacted to John Lennon's Death 35 Years Ago

When the world learned that John Lennon was gone