We feel awe toward celebrities sort of like we used to feel awe toward gods and spirits (or those embodying them like pharaohs). A sign that our secular culture is not as secular as we think Isn’t it paradoxical that the high status (& self-concept) of sports stars or celebrities depends on the millions of low status people whose admiration is often worthless (or even contemptible) individually, but somehow acquires great value when added collectively? According to Becker, Low status individuals who worship or defend hi status and wealth want to believe that they are part of a good society with meaning, value and durability -all the things that insignificant mortals Lack.Because it is better to have a minuscule amount of value in such a society than to perceive it all as senseless and irrational. It’s better to be a minuscule cog in an immortal purposeful machine (Especially if-one can dream of being a big cog) than Be an ephemeral nothing in the midst of ephemeral nothings. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCpM7Z_ewg

What about creative pleasure, participation, relatedness & usefulness to society? Some comments by Erich Fromm ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu-7UDT0Xe4