Celebrities, Paparazzi and Tabloid Readers

E.T. is curious how the fame mechanism works.

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E.T. What do paparazzi do?

Elliott: Take pictures of celebrities.

E.T. Do celebrities want their pictures taken?

Elliott: Celebrities need their pictures taken to make them famous.

E.T. Who wants to see these pictures?

Elliott: Readers of tabloids. They ask for sensational pictures and stories.

E.T. So, it’s a give and take relationship then? Readers want pictures and stories of celebrities, celebrities want to be read about, paparazzi provide.

Elliott: The system has its problems. Sometimes the celebrity does something in public that makes a for an embarrassing picture. And sometimes the paparazzi stalk the celebrity and intrude on their privacy. It's a saprophytic relationship.

E.T. Ah, they live off each other, and die off each other?

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