A sign of celebrity is that his name is often worth more than his

Host: The room is bathed in the soft glow of evening, the shadows of the day growing long as night begins to settle in. The air is calm, almost reflective, as the city outside continues its steady hum. Jeeny sits at the table, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug, her gaze lost in thought. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, gazing out at the street below.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, yet filled with curiosity) “You ever think about how celebrity works? How someone’s name can carry so much weight, even if their actual talents or services don’t match the hype?”

Jack: (glancing over at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Celebrity, huh? Yeah, it’s strange how some people become famous just for being famous. Their name can be worth more than anything they actually do or contribute. What do you mean exactly?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, a small smile forming as she explains) “I was reading something by Daniel J. Boorstin, and he said, ‘A sign of celebrity is that his name is often worth more than his services.’ It made me think about how celebrity has become more about image than about actual skills or contributions. The name itself becomes valuable, almost independent of the person.”

Jack: (pauses, his brow furrowing as he considers her words) “So, he’s saying that celebrity culture often elevates the brand of a person over what they actually do? The name carries more value than the work itself?”

Jeeny: (smiling more deeply now, her eyes steady with understanding) “Exactly. A celebrity’s name becomes a product. It’s not necessarily tied to any skill or service they provide—it’s the image, the recognition that people attach to it. Think about how certain names carry weight in advertising, in media, even in politics, despite the fact that the person’s actual contributions might be minimal. The name itself holds power.”

Host: Jeeny’s words settle between them, a quiet understanding unfolding about the way society values image and recognition over substance. Jack stands still, his expression softening as he reflects on the deeper implications of celebrity culture. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, the conversation feels more grounded in the reality of how names and images shape society.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, almost reflective) “I see what you mean. It’s like we’ve started valuing the appearance of success over the actual effort or talent that goes into it. People don’t always care about the quality of work or service, as long as the name has the right kind of appeal.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice calm but filled with quiet conviction) “Exactly. In today’s world, the value of a name often has less to do with the person’s actual abilities and more to do with the marketability of that name, the image attached to it. That’s the essence of celebrity—it’s about creating a persona that people recognize and connect with, even if that persona doesn’t necessarily reflect the true value of the person behind it.”

Jack: (pauses, his expression thoughtful as he processes her words) “It’s kind of disturbing, isn’t it? How we can elevate people for the wrong reasons—based on image, popularity, or marketability, instead of substance. But I guess that’s the nature of celebrity culture now.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently, her eyes full of quiet understanding) “Yes, and that’s why it’s important to look beyond the name, to focus on what truly matters. Celebrity might give someone influence or power, but it doesn’t necessarily give them value in terms of real contributions. That’s something we should all keep in mind.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, the weight of their conversation settling into something deeper. Jack turns back from the window, his posture a little more relaxed, a realization about the power of image and celebrity sinking in. Jeeny watches him, her smile content, knowing that sometimes, the true worth of a person is not in the name they’ve built, but in the real value they provide. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, there’s a shared understanding that names and images can carry weight, but it’s the substance that truly matters.