--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The religious imagery and fairytales that…" description: "\"The religious imagery and fairytales that formed our shared cultural references have been replaced by the cult of celebrity. Marilyn is the sex goddess..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/alison-jackson-16728_become_the-religious-imagery-and-fairytales-tha_76647.jpg" --- # The religious imagery and fairytales that formed our… ![“The religious imagery and fairytales that formed our shared cultural references have been replaced by the cult of celebrity. Marilyn is the sex goddess, Camilla Parker Bowles is cast as the wicked witch, Che Guevara is the revolutionary. Celebrities have become visual shorthand for narratives that…” quote by Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/alison-jackson-16728_become_the-religious-imagery-and-fairytales-tha_76647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/alison-jackson-16728_become_the-religious-imagery-and-fairytales-tha_76647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/alison-jackson-16728_become_the-religious-imagery-and-fairytales-tha_76647.jpg) > “The religious imagery and fairytales that formed our shared cultural references have been replaced by the cult of celebrity. Marilyn is the sex goddess, Camilla Parker Bowles is cast as the wicked witch, Che Guevara is the revolutionary. Celebrities have become visual shorthand for narratives that shape our lives.” [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern culture substitutes mythic narratives with celebrity personas, using famous figures as symbolic stand‑ins for deeper stories. **In simple terms:** Celebrities act as contemporary archetypes. Key Takeaway Icons replace myths in shaping identity. Themes cultural mythmaking celebrity worship symbolic representation narrative shorthand media influence Mood reflective critical cynical Type observational cultural critique When to use this quote - media analysis - cultural criticism - branding strategy - political messaging - educational curricula Key Concepts mythic substitution iconic symbolism social narrative Practical Applications - media literacy training - cultural studies curricula Questions to Reflect On - How does celebrity symbolism affect personal values? - What are the risks of reducing complex narratives to single figures? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Celebrities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrities/) [Celebrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrity/) [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Goddess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess/) [Imagery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagery/) [Narratives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narratives/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Shorthand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shorthand/) [Visual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual/) [Wicked witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-witch/) [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) ## Related quotes > [“As the brilliant economist-educator Russell Roberts points out, chroniclers of the cult of celebrity have an extensive pedigree. Writing in The Theory of Moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haskel/as-the-brilliant-economist-educator-russell-roberts-points-out/) [Jonathan Haskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haskel/) > [There is snobbery in the idea that the modern cult of celebrity has not touched the lofty realm of letters. We are like visitors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zia-haider-rahman/there-is-snobbery-in-the-idea-that-the-modern-cult-of-celebrity-has/) [Zia Haider Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zia-haider-rahman/) > [Our idea of happiness, some of it, is very tied to the cult of celebrity: there is this golden, wonderful life that I want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-harlech/our-idea-of-happiness-some-of-it-is-very-tied-to-the-cult-of/) [Amanda Harlech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-harlech/) > [“The cult of celebrity is cogitative shit running through the bowel of the intellect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-cult-of-celebrity-is-cogitative-shit-running-through-the-bowel-of/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [While you can have the cult of the celebrity chef, the food still must taste good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/while-you-can-have-the-cult-of-the-celebrity-chef-the-food-still-must/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [“Only in the detached from reality world of goofy Hollywood and modern academia could a mass murderer like Che Guevara be turned into something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/only-in-the-detached-from-reality-world-of-goofy-hollywood-and-modern/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > ['George' exploits John Kennedy Jr.'s cult of celebrity at a time when Americans are hungry for icons, not heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-easton/george-exploits-john-kennedy-jr-s-cult-of-celebrity-at-a-time-when/) [Nina Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-easton/) > [Every member of the Beatles drove a Radford. Enzo Ferrari, Steve McQueen, Peter Sellers, Twiggy, they all had one. So it had this really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-anstead/every-member-of-the-beatles-drove-a-radford-enzo-ferrari-steve/) [Ant Anstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-anstead/) > [I wouldn't say no to becoming a Bond girl. Making it in Hollywood has been my dream ever since I was little, watching Marilyn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-haddock/i-wouldn-t-say-no-to-becoming-a-bond-girl-making-it-in-hollywood-has/) [Laura Haddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-haddock/) > [“Nearly thirty years on, despite Pejic’s unpopularity with some feminists and the closet-cases who write for US FHM, 1980s Marilyn and his shameless, shining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-simpson/nearly-thirty-years-on-despite-pejic-s-unpopularity-with-some/) [Mark Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-simpson/) > [I knew Marilyn over a two-year period. I met her first on a movie called 'Let's Make Love.' I photographed her at that time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/i-knew-marilyn-over-a-two-year-period-i-met-her-first-on-a-movie/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I taped the autopsy photos from Marilyn Monroe's death to my lunch box in fifth grade, and I would write stories in which someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/i-taped-the-autopsy-photos-from-marilyn-monroe-s-death-to-my-lunch/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [When I was stalking my special lady friend on MySpace, people would always say, 'Is this really Marilyn Manson or some kind of psycho?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/when-i-was-stalking-my-special-lady-friend-on-myspace-people-would/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [Marilyn Monroe appeared to be perfect, but she wasn't perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/marilyn-monroe-appeared-to-be-perfect-but-she-wasn-t-perfect/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) ## More by Alison Jackson > [I suppose we carry photographs now, but I think it's rather wonderful that people used to carry drawings and watercolours. I wish people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-suppose-we-carry-photographs-now-but-i-think-it-s-rather-wonderful/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I'm really interested in how we view the public figure, what makes a public figure, what makes a celebrity, and how images make politicians,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-m-really-interested-in-how-we-view-the-public-figure-what-makes-a/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I had a very outdoorsy childhood. I was athletic and used to ride and do dressage. I could ride almost before I could walk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-had-a-very-outdoorsy-childhood-i-was-athletic-and-used-to-ride-and/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I'm not satirical in a traditional way. What I do is more about creating caricatures and cartoons. I am commentating on the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-m-not-satirical-in-a-traditional-way-what-i-do-is-more-about/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I'm a contemporary artist and I show in art galleries and museums. I show a number of photographs and films, but I also make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-m-a-contemporary-artist-and-i-show-in-art-galleries-and-museums-i/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [Photography acts as a teaser, suggesting we can know something that we can never know. And the more we can't obtain it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/photography-acts-as-a-teaser-suggesting-we-can-know-something-that-we/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I think privacy is important, and it's important you don't bore people with your own boring self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-think-privacy-is-important-and-it-s-important-you-don-t-bore-people/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [Photography can be a deceitful, superficial medium that leads us into believing something even though we know it's not necessarily true. It lulls us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/photography-can-be-a-deceitful-superficial-medium-that-leads-us-into/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I am very pro-royal. Britain without them would be a sadder place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-am-very-pro-royal-britain-without-them-would-be-a-sadder-place/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [When I am preparing my 'lookalike' photographs, I think about the character of the real people, because, if the photographs are going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/when-i-am-preparing-my-lookalike-photographs-i-think-about-the/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [The only people I really hate are parking attendants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/the-only-people-i-really-hate-are-parking-attendants/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [Celebrities do look different in real life from our images of them - there is a big gap. And that is what my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/celebrities-do-look-different-in-real-life-from-our-images-of-them/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I don't really like using ridicule as a form of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-don-t-really-like-using-ridicule-as-a-form-of-humor/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [I'd like to take more pictures of real celebrities. It would be fabulous to photograph Brad Pitt. He's so good-looking and just such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/i-d-like-to-take-more-pictures-of-real-celebrities-it-would-be/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) > [Among other things, I use a Samsung mobile phone, a very bad quality video camera, and an old Olympus with extremely bad Sigma lenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-jackson/among-other-things-i-use-a-samsung-mobile-phone-a-very-bad-quality/) [Alison Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) [Explore all 39 Alison Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-jackson/) ## More Become quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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So, I wanted to become someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-had-a-talent-for-copying-the-signatures-of-dignitaries-like-indira/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. 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