The Centre for Media and Celebrity Studies (CMCS) presents Celebrity Chat, a pioneering video series dedicated to critical conversations around fame, persona, and popular culture. Hosted on the CMCS YouTube channel, Celebrity Chat serves as a unique scholarly platform where academics, media professionals, and engaged audiences come together to analyze the complex world of celebrity.
The series was officially launched at the international conference Bridging Gaps: Where is the Persona in Celebrity and Journalism?, held in New York City in September 2015. Since its inception, Celebrity Chat has evolved into an accessible and reliable resource for scholars, students, and journalists who are exploring the cultural significance of celebrity in contemporary media landscapes.
Each video episode features an engaging and intellectually stimulating discussion — either between two scholars, or between a scholar and a media expert or fan. The aim is to foster nuanced dialogue that bridges academic theory with everyday media experiences. Topics covered include a wide range of pressing and thought-provoking themes: the performance of persona, branding, scandal, advertising, sexualisation, activism, authenticity, the politics of selfies, and the impact of social media, among others. These conversations often draw upon key academic texts, and references to relevant publications can be provided on request, making the series a valuable pedagogical tool for classrooms and research.
Celebrity Chat does not just dissect celebrity culture—it repositions it as a powerful lens through which we can understand broader social, political, and ethical questions. Whether you’re researching the role of celebrity in social movements, analyzing the commodification of identity, or exploring how fame intersects with race, gender, or class, this series offers grounded, in-depth perspectives.
We welcome scholars, researchers, and media practitioners interested in sharing their insights on celebrity studies.
Watch the complete series on the Celebrity Chat YouTube.