This spring, "American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson" premiered on FX to much critical acclaim. The show thoughtfully examines many different aspects of the case, from racism, to sexism, to general injustice. However, the show's commentary on the rise of celebrity commercialization is especially potent given the current cultural climate.
Many of the episodes feature heavily on the show's moral center, Robert Kardashian, but also, to the chagrin of many, his children. You know them as Kim, Kloé, Kourtney, and Robert Jr. Now, many decried this inclusion as a cheap sellout in order to garner publicity, but actually, the emphasis on the Kardashians highlights how the trial impacted the emergence of celebrity culture.
The People v. O. J. Simpson marked one of the first times that there was a nation-wide cultural event. The trial was on 24/7, and the nation was obsessed. There were celebrities before, but never on this scale. This was the landmark moment that changed culture as we know it. O. J. was already a celebrity, and this was the first time that a celebrity was placed on trial. This combined with O. J.'s legal team's successful use of the media resulted in an increasingly sensationalized and publicized trial. That's one of the main reasons that O. J. got off, because his team played the media game so much more effectively. Spoiler.
Thanks to O. J., more and more cases are publicized and filmed, such as the Casey Anthony case. Thanks to O. J., we have reality television, one of the biggest television genres. Thanks to O. J., we have a culture fixated around the commercialization of celebrities.
Now some may bemoan the spread of celebrity culture, while others clamor for more Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but it is impossible to deny the wide-reaching impact that The People v. O. J. Simpson had on culture as we know it. Celebrities have spread from culture to law, to now, politics. Thanks to O. J., we have a reality TV Star running for President.
In short, please watch "American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson"; it is a masterpiece. It not only deftly examine's one of the most important and controversial cases, but it also manages to be a constantly thought provoking work of art on racism, sexism, and injustice everywhere, and it addresses the rise of celebrity culture in America. That's a lot for ten episodes. Anyone currently living in this culture or voting in this election, you should watch "The People v. O. J. Simpson" to just understand how we got here, to a possible reality star President. You owe it to yourself.
