Modern Day Heroes Are Drawn from the World of Entertainment free essay sample

When we come across the word hero, we often think about people who influence others, as well as individuals whose efforts change situations. Ancient heroes are people of semi-divine origins such as beings from Greek mythology such as Hercules and Perseus. However, modern day heroes are still human beings. They tend not to be fictional and instead, are derived from the world of popular culture, such as sports and entertainment. I feel that the attention and money devoted to the sponsorship of these sportsmen and celebrities suggest that they are very influential figures in todays society. This means that they are usually idolized by others and play a powerful role in shaping morals and values of society. However, there are pros and cons of idolizing such people. Hence, we should always choose the celebrities we idolize. Some consider societys new choice of heroes unhealthy ones. After all, many of these modern heroes do not seem suitable role models for the young. We will write a custom essay sample on Modern Day Heroes Are Drawn from the World of Entertainment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Some unsuitable role models many tend to look up to is singing sensation KE$HA. Her music video for her smash hit Tik Tok, seemed to encourage rebelliousness, as well as alcoholism. This video also glorifies a decadent lifestyle, which makes it a source of influence to many teenage viewers. This song also drew a lot of criticism when this video featured several 12-year-old girls carrying beer bottles in front of the camera. Hence, these ‘modern heroes deem to be undesirable role models for the pre-adolescents. Other unsuitable personalities include Lindsay Lohan, who led a party-girl lifestyle, abused drugs and was admitted to rehabilitation facilities several times. She also suffered from bulimia, resulting in a rapid loss of weight. Lindsay Lohan is also not a good role model for pre-pubescent girls as her party-girl lifestyle might influence teenagers to neglect their studies, and instead spend their time partying. Both KE$HA and Lindsay Lohan promote very unhealthy lifestyles and also instills the wrong values in young people. However, this trend is not entirely detrimental to society. There are many inspiring celebrities and sportspeople who inculcate the right values in the youths of today. Once such inspirational figure is Oprah Winfrey. Born into poverty, Winfrey rose to become one of the most powerful person in the entertainment industry, as well as one of the richest people across the globe. She now hosts one of the most-watched talk shows â€Å" The Oprah Winfrey Show†. She encourages a healthy and balanced life. Another desirable person to look up to is Lance Armstrong. He was the only person who won the Tour de France seven consecutive times, even after surviving cancer. Both Winfrey and Armstrong set up their own charity foundations. Oprah’s Angel Network even raised about $51 million. Both people are outstanding personalities, and their actions inculcate decent and appropriate values in today’s youth. In today’s world, where everyone is connected through the mass media, and where news travel across the globe almost instantaneously, our heroes are no longer limited to celebrities and sportspeople. People from all walks of life that may have gone unnoticed before have now ascended to the status of ‘hero’. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, for example, soldiers, firefighters and people who risked their lives to rescue survivors. One such person who ascended to the status of ‘hero’ is Barack Obama. He is the 44th president of the United States of America and assumed office in January 2009. Although he came from a broken family, he attended Harvard Law School. Two other personalities who are not celebrities or sportspeople but are often regarded as role models are Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Both men displayed passion for their work and their hard work led to great things. Both are also philanthropists who donate millions of dollars annually to charitable organizations. Through these less conventional heroes, we can learn that the values of discipline, hard work, the power of selflessness, as well as the humanitarian spirit. We have come a long way from the days of Hercules and monster slayers. Heroes are no longer narrowly defined as beings with superhuman abilities, but as real people who inspire us and change us in everyday lives. I think that, for me, the real modern-day heroes are the ones who ‘save’ me everyday. These ‘saviors’ include my family, teachers, and my friends. They educate me and support me along the way. As such, I believe that we should appreciate the presence of such people, and not take them for granted. Sources: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Lance_Armstrong_Foundation http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Kesha http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Lindsay_Lohan