Chase You Down Until You Love Me Papa-Papa-Razzi
Image Courtesy: Andanson-Cardinale-Ruet/Sygma/Corbis.
One of the most haunting yet fascinating parts of fame is the paparazzi capturing every moment and taking pictures and footage of celebrities. As invasive as it is, the audience is always entertained with the content being published.
The paparazzi first spawned in Rome, Italy, in the 1950s. Italy was in its post-war era, finding ways to bring itself afloat economically. Luckily for them, the cinema industry was on a run with producing some of Italy’s finest films that garnered them attention worldwide. Hollywood was filming various films in Italy, which led to the infamous street of Via Veneto, where many socialites and celebrities would frequently gather and hangout like Audrey Hepburn and Frank Sinatra.
There are always two sides to every story. While celebrities were living it up in Rome, civilians were struggling to keep up with the economy, leaving many to do freelance work, like photography, to make ends meet. Tazio Secchiaroli was roaming the streets one night when he heard jazz music. Following the music led him to a restaurant filled with elites. He then pulled out his camera, capturing the people smoking and dancing. In the midst of doing so, a woman hopped on the table and stripped naked, Secchiaroli’s camera got to flashing, and the next day the tabloids got to printing.
This inspired the production of the 1960 film, La Dolce Vita, where a journalist and a photographer named Paparazzo go around the city getting stories and media of celebrities.
Fast forward to the 80s, where paparazzi culture has made its way to the UK, America, and other countries. Paparazzi realized quickly that scandal wouldn't be the only thing that sells, but also photos of celebrities doing mundane things. Princess Diana was often sought out by paparazzi with countless footage and photos of her coming to and from the gym. Those photos are so notable, I can tell you without looking at what outfit she’s wearing. A sweatshirt, biker shorts, and tennis shoes. Lady D would repeat the same outfits to confuse the paparazzi. This excessiveness, unfortunately, led to her tragic death in 1997, when paparazzi chased her car down flashing lights, causing the car to crash.
Not much changed after her death; it actually became worse! The early 2000s were known for being the golden age of paparazzi. The paparazzi made $5,000 - $15,000 from selling photos and were able to earn 20% - 70% in royalties. The paparazzi played a major role in the demise of Britney Spears, capturing her in her most vulnerable state. Photos of her crying after nearly dropping her baby and photos of her after shaving her hair off without a doubt still affect her to this day. We were never supposed to see those moments of hers, but people love to see public figures at their worst to make themselves feel better or even closer to them.
There has been a shift in paparazzi culture. Lady Gaga said it herself, “People that say that they can’t escape paparazzi are full of sh-t’’ This seems to be true as some of the most famous celebs like Beyoncé and Adele are hardly photographed unless they are promoting their work. Meanwhile, celebs like Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid seem to call the paparazzi on themselves to get outfit pictures and to keep their names in the headlines. It’s no shade to them, but who grocery shops in six-inch heels?
Paparazzi culture has come a long way, with more laws being passed and celebrities investing in security. It has become increasingly harder for paparazzi to invade the privacy of celebrities, and they are now left to photograph influencers and Chappell Roan.
Strike Out,
Johann Jonassaint
Boca Raton
Johann Jonassaint is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. A true Venusian who can never get enough of being wrapped in cozy sheets, listening to video essays, or daydreaming. When she finally leaves her sheets, you can catch her writing at the library, the only place she can actually get work done. Feel free to contact her at jjonassaint2023@gmail.com or @jojoeva_ on Instagram.
