Learning from Other Writers: The Strange Power of Celebrity

Instructor's Notes

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The Strange Power of Celebrity

Tom Ashbrook and Ty Burr

Audio Interview

Tom Ashbrook is the host of the National Public Radio show On Point. In this brief excerpt from the show, Ashbrook interviews Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr, about the idea behind his book Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom and Modern Fame (2012). Listen to the excerpt, and then answer the questions that follow.

View Transcript.

On Point with Tom Ashbrook is a Production of WBUR, Boston and is distributed by NPR.

Source: https://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/10/05/the-strange-power-of-celebrity

Questions to Start You Thinking

Meaning

  1. Burr says that one of the reasons that we watch celebrities is because they present a “coherent identity.” What does he mean by “coherent identity”? Give some examples of celebrities with a coherent identity.
  2. What does Burr say the Internet has allowed us to do?

    Writing Strategies

  3. This interview is structured as a conversation. How effective did you find this structure? Would you have preferred a more formal interview? Why or why not?