Which celebrity would you love to meet, and what would you talk about?
Celebrity—movie star, scholar, or politician? Why are they given the title “celebrity” at all? And why do people long to be called one?
Perhaps it comes down to the nature of our social hierarchy: public fame, or leading status in every field. Perhaps it is because commercial media drive us to fix our attention on high-profile figures. Or perhaps it is simply because we want them to exist. But how many of them are truly role models for humanity?
Ancient and medieval fame rested on great military deeds or on a legacy that outlived the person—and even then, some of them are disputable. Modern celebrity, by contrast, rests on personal fame and visibility, weighing renown more heavily than virtue.
The common thread in the entertainment industry uses actors’ fame to promote new films. In the same way, businesses use famous faces as “brands” for large commercial franchises that people can easily recognise and trust. Today, mass social media creates a one-sided psychological bond in which fans feel they personally know their idol performers—or even fantasise about an intimate relationship with them.
Want to be your own celebrity? Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can make that dream come true in a split second, turning everyday individuals into micro-celebrities and influencers. This is the democratisation of the same hollow chase: more people, more channels, the same hunger for flames.
The prompt question assumes I would want the meeting at all. My honest answer is: none, in the way the question means. I don’t want to meet any celebrity in person, or through a screen. Nor do I wish to add fuel to their fame, or to chase the media spotlight as fans do. If I want to read the stories of renowned, well-respected people’s successes, or to share their philosophy or expertise, I can do so through their publications, productions, public speeches, or live interviews. That, to me, is how I show support or approval—and it is also my answer to what we would “talk about.” I would rather converse with their work than with their image.
As for the media, they put high-profile figures in front of the camera. Some of the finest interviews are conducted by reputable journalists. And if experienced journalists can’t draw more out of their interviewees, what truth can I expect to uncover beneath the camera? What I care about is not a good performance—but a good heart.
I watch life fly by, decade after decade. People’s desire for fame is a desire for flames. Death follows everyone from the day of birth—and a celebrity, like anyone else, will ultimately return to dust. If you want your name to endure after death, if you want to register a legacy of permanent value, then look beyond the spotlight. Light shows you the way.
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