Celebrity Surprise

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As media-savvy as I consider myself, there is one concept I always fall for: “celebrities are stupid.” I think maybe it’s my acceptance of the idea of the “conservation of characteristics” — it’s a theory Mike introduced me to and which largely makes sense. Basically, like D&D where you roll dice to choose your characters’ attributes but you have a maximum number of points to distribute, you can’t be super strong and super smart and super handsome; you get all average or you can push one down while another is increased. It makes me feel better about a world where smart people are generally not supermodels and supermodels are not generally known for their brains.

That’s the trap.

This week I’ve been caught twice and perhaps fooled once in this trap. Caught first when learning that both Natalie Portman and Colin Firth have each co-authored scientific papers and then when listening to Russel Brand quote literature, theology, philosophy and in general get pretty damned deep while being interviewed on KRCW’s The Treatment.  Perhaps fooled by James Franco, whom the media has branded a “Renaissance Man,” during a repeat airing of his April 5th appearance on the Colbert Report.

Let’s start with Franco. I cannot look at him or hear him without thinking he is perpetually stoned. He has a habit of giggling at everything and flashing that goofy smile. I am amazed he can ever focus long enough to pull off a straight face for 30 seconds on film. The media has dubbed him their Renaissance Man darling because he can both act and think — allegedly. The fact that he studied at 5 different universities and taught at another does not say to me that he’s clever, only that he lacks direction. Until he publishes something clever in a peer-reviewed journal, I’m calling him a “jack of all trades” (and implying “master of none.”)

And lest you think I am being too strict by insisting it is published in a peer-reviewed journal, I return you to the Colin Firth1 and Natalie Portman2 (nee Hershlag) conundrum: two beautiful people who are also apparently very clever.

And that brings me to Russel Brand. What a surprise! Having seen him first in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and then in Get him to the Greek, I just presumed him to be a pompous, self-absorbed Sacha Baron Cohen wannabe. In a way, he is all of those, but he is also surprisingly aware of his place in society and the role he plays. About 5 minutes in, as Mitchell is asking him about the title “Booky Wook 2” (and the rejected subtitles including “Pig in the City”) he says, almost off-handedly, that the title is meant to evoke the way Alex and his droogs spoke in A Clockwork Orange. Brand then goes on to talk about how useless the English language is now that words like “awesome” and “life-changing” are being used to flog yogurt. Throughout the interview, Brand goes off on wild tangents and quotes many works of literature and philosophy; clearly, he’s well-read and seems to have not only retained but understood many of the deepest concepts. I’m still stunned… and now I want to read his book, too.

 

1Political Orientations are Correlated with Brain Structure in Young Adults. Current Biology 21, 1-4 (Apr 26, 2011) [abstract; fulltext PDF — may require subscription]
2Frontal Lobe Activation during Object Permanence: Data from Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. NeuroImage 16 1120-1126 (2002) [fulltext PDF]

 

 

 

3 Replies to “Celebrity Surprise”

  1. Ah yes but… I know a few people who have “co-authored” scientific papers and the requirements to get such a distinction is not all that high. For instance, one can run certain experiments like a lab tech, not necesarily having the original thought for the concept or fully understanding the process, and still co-author. This is done by the main author and scientist for various reasons and one could be.. just could be… that Colin Firth and Natalie (I can dance!) Portman might actually lend some extra interest and funding their way.

    So, I guess I’m saying that I’m not all that convinced those two are smarter than the average undergrad – even if it is an ivy league.

    As for Franco… the institutions he attends may show he’s a little distracted but on the other hand, they are all related departments in a Fine Arts umbrella. They all make sense. Not only that but he has done two masters degrees concurrently. If you can say anything about he guy, you would have to admit he can focus. Not many people would be able to handle the level of concentration needed to complete that kind of work.

    • True Ada. If you look closely, you’ll find my name as co-author of a paper in Canadian Geographer in the 1990s but all I did was collate data. 😉

  2. So Russell Brand hankers after making a film with his wife, Katie Perry, does he? After seeing his sorry performance in the remake of Arthur I reckon he might want to worry more about making another movie ever, let alone with the female lead of his choice!