By Leanna Zamosc
Sure, Benedict Cumberbatch is a talented actor. We all know that. But what most people don’t know is that he also has talent….in making handmade cards!
Or so it is headlined when Cumberbatch and several other actors and actresses made handmade cards for a kids charity (Coram) that are to be sold on ebay. This means, if you really want to, you can buy a handmade card made by Cumberbatch.
It is a pretty card depicting a bird on a tree branch. It’s not the greatest thing to ever be made but, for those people who are truly Cumberbatch fans, it could be the most important thing ever created. Why? Because it is something that—if they pay enough money—they can win. It is a holy item made by Cumberbatch that is being sold to the highest bidder.
If one were to compare celebrity mania to religion, this would mean that whoever buys the card will have a relic of a celebrity. You can have this card, this thing made by the hands of a celebrity you will most likely never meet, and you can do anything you want with it. A card itself means virtually nothing if it is given to you by a complete stranger. But it gets a different value when it is made by a famous stranger. The card becomes attached to a name and thus we make it valuable. Like religious relics, we give meaning to the card and the card becomes (almost) holy.
But let’s be real here. Why would you want a card made by a complete stranger? Because, no matter how much we know about him through internet stalking, he is still a stranger to us. We the public are not his friends or family. Also, we are paying for this card. Cards normally are given to people as a gift, but these cards that are being made for charity are to be bought by the highest bidder. It is almost as if the celebrity is selling an aspect of themselves to the public in order to appease the public. The situation with the charity card is yet another example of the complicated push-and-pull relationship between the public and the celebrity.
Hi Leanna,
Your post really emphasizes the obsession with celebrity culture. As we have seen time and time again, if a celebrity’s name is associated with any item, that item’s value can potentially skyrocket! I remember when I was younger, there was a news story about Britney Spears’ used gum being sold on Ebay for thousands of dollars. Why would anyone want that? Obviously, the only alluring trait of this gum was that it was once chewed by Ms. Spears herself. Another example of this obsession with celebrity possessions is the simple desire for celebrity autographs. Why do autographs have any value? After all, they are just scribbles made by a person who is anxiously trying to dodge paparazzi and cameras. The only reason that any of these items are viewed as “valuable” is because they belong to and are associated with a famous person. Like you mentioned in your post, these celebrities are essentially strangers. The only information we know about a celebrity is the information they want us to know. Yet, we are intrigued by them and we are constantly trying to form a personal connection with celebrities.
The homemade Cumberbatch card is a perfect example of our desire to become closer and more intimate with celebrities. We can’t all be Benedict Cumberbatch (sad, but true) and we cannot all attain his level of fame. However, by owning a card that is handmade by him, we can claim that we now have an intimate connection with Cumberbatch. This form of celebrity worship is definitely puzzling and slightly disturbing. I like your comparison to religion and celebrity because this can be applied to this situation. Some Cumberbatch worshippers do view him as ethereal and divine, and I’m sure their level of affection towards Cumberbatch can be analogous to religious worship. This also reminded me of the Rod vs. God chapter of Fame Junkies which addressed the dichotomy between religious and celebrity worship.
I do have to admit though that I appreciate that the proceeds from this napkin go to charity. Since the Cumberbatch name has the power to increase an items value, I think that it should be used for charity purposes to raise awareness for necessary causes. However, the article does make me wonder why we are so obsessed with Cumberbatch (or any celebrity for that matter). I know that this definitely would not be a news article if the card was made by my neighbor Joe Smith.
Finally, your article is a great example of how the Cumberbatch fame machine (his publicists, agents, etc.) uses charity to further his image as a proper English gentleman. Cumberbatch is portrayed as a kind and generous soul who is willing to give up his time and efforts to support a children’s charity. The amount of positive publicity that will arise from this article will be astounding.
After all, what is sweeter than your favorite celebrity making arts and crafts for a children’s charity?