Celebrating Patriotism: The Representation of Patriotism in Celebrity Culture

This chapter deals with decoding the representation of patriotism in Israeli celebrity culture. Whereas in the past, the art scene – and the artists themselves – were agents of production and distribution of national patriotism, in recent years we have witnessed the entering of additional actors into the patriotic arena – the celebrities. As a rule, celebrity culture draws on popular culture, until gradually establishing an independent sphere within the field of popular culture. Current research has exposed media practices that frame the celebration of patriotism in Jewish Israeli society: (a) the first order of practicing patriotism – visibility; (b) the second order of practicing patriotism – confession; (c) the third order of practicing patriotism – gratitude; and (d) the fourth order of practicing patriotism – mission. Those four orders of celebrating patriotism mobilize a social force of civic obligation, while strengthening the Gordian knot binding media, celebrities with their consumers, and fans.