Sophie Coombe
Celebrity culture is a trend commonplace to the everyday. I explore conventions used in the media through the placement of fictional character ‘Stacey Reid’. Employing video, photography and social-networking sites, I speak to the media in its own language through my work, thus making 'Stacey' a mirror who returns this aspect of culture back on itself. Observation and absorption of celebrity attributes lifted from TV, news articles and the internet are projected onto Stacey, making her a child of mass media. Highlighting the artifice used to construct her portrayal prompts the viewer to consider the potency of media culture. A satirical approach exposes how easily these conventions can be adopted, unsettling what it means to aspire to be a celebrity. Why choose to personally expose yourself or be ‘Stacey Reid Uncut’? Fakery is surely a mockery of oneself.