2. instant celebrity,
making random people famous,
for totally random reasons...
Making random people famous for random reasons – we used to say ‘it’s what Warhol
would have wanted’ but then we got a letter from the Andy Warhol Foundation’s lawyers
who said we can't say that any more. Seriously, evidently they’re the only ones who can
legally speculate about what Andy would have wanted. Go figure. Anyway, now we say
‘it’s what Warhol may or may not have wanted’. They haven't got back to us on that one
yet.... stay tuned.
3. first,
about the magazine,
about other people...
Before we introduce Instant Celebrity, we should probably introduce the
magazine:
We’re Warhol’s Children – www.warholschildren.com.au – and we’re the
magazine about other people. We’re interested in what people are really thinking,
not what talk back radio, reality shows, mainstream press, morning TV, tabloid
journalists, ‘experts’ or the media tell us they’re thinking.
We’re interested in what’s really going on. We’re interested in the world from
other people’s point of view, in their words, and not ours. We’re interested in
what they like, what they don’t. We’re interested in the subcultures, the
obsessions, the possessions, the status symbols, the ambitions, the relationships,
the careers and lives of other people.
We’re interested in what interests them. Brands, music, sex, shopping. About what
they wear. What they believe.
We open a little window into the parallel universe that is the life of another
person; the view can be interesting.
4. what’s instant celebrity
got to do with andy warhol?
Good question. Andy is representative of a moment in history when celebrity got de-
coupled from actual achievement, accomplishment or talent, he made people
celebrities or “superstars” (as he called them) simply because he could.
So are we being political here? Is this some sort of intellectual statement? Sure...
maybe... but we’re not getting into that, no one wants us getting all ‘deep and
meaningful’, so just think of it as simply our little tribute to Warhol’s contribution to
the modern world.
And, unlike the banal, vapid, anodyne airbrushed puppets that comprise the Instant
Celebrities of reality TV shows and the mainstream media machine, we make a
slightly different set of choices. Our Instant Celebrities are a little more interesting, a
little more real. When you meet them, you'll see why and why we’ve chosen them,
it’s not something we really have to spell out.
5. This is Valen Chang and she may have set a world
record for international travel wearing a chipmunk
costume.
In March this year she travelled from Tokyo to
Sydney wearing the chipmunk costume pictured
here. Forget business class, she flies ‘chipmunk’. As
we see it, not only is she now a world record
holder, but she’s thrown down a pretty serious
challenge to all international travellers.
We’re going to make her famous, just for the hell
of it, it’s the kind of thing Warhol’s Children do.
6. This is Stuz, one of our contributors, and one of our Instant
Celebrities’, if you’ve read her work for Warhol’s Children,
you’ll know why she was chosen.
7. This is Mickey Suzuki, she’s a writer and in fashion, she’s got a sharp
mind, a good eye and a way with words, she’s an Instant Celebrity
because we figure she’s someone to watch.
8. This is Camden, he’s a writer and a musician. We cover a
lot of music, from playlists to festivals, it’s very much a
crucial part of what we do.
9. This is Zoe Mattesson from Danger Haus
in Adelaide (yes, Warhol's Children is a
national thing) she’s rock and roll, tattoos
and fashion entrepreneur, and Warhol’s
Children love all of these things.
10. how it works...
It’s not complicated, we simply declare random people Instant Celebrities and publish their
photos, a little information about them and a few links so you can discover them for yourself.
We then invite our readers and friends to share the images and links with the idea that we’ll
help our Instant Celebrities achieve some measure of ‘fame’ whatever that means (and for
whatever it’s worth).
It gives a little exposure to someone who may find a little exposure useful- to themselves,
their cause, their idea, their work or their initiative, and at the very least it’s an interesting
thing to do.
It’s also part of our mission to give exposure to emerging creative people, so it kind of makes
sense. And it’s what Warhol may or may not have wanted.
If you get invited to be an Instant Celebrity, consider it a compliment, many are nominated,
few are chosen – it means someone on staff, or one of our friends or readers must like you.
11. would you like to be famous?
If you’d like to be an instant celebrity, or know someone who would , let us know,
we’re always accepting nominations and would love to hear from you - e-mail the
editor at editor@warholschildren.com
