Posts
Whiney's Death: A Personal Trouble or Issue? Hello class. It's shocking that Whitney Houston died almost two weeks ago. For some of you, her death may not mean as much to you. Perhaps the only knowledge you have of her was that she had a drug habit, she was married to Bobby Brown, and that she did a disastruous reality show in the early 2000s.
I remember her from growing up and she left quite an impact on my life. She was one of the first pop stars for me as a teenager. Over the years, I watched her meteoric rise and also beared witness to her tragic ending. Check out one of her videos. This was one of my favorite songs of hers:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+and+I%27m+your+baby+tonight+by+whitney+houston&view=detail&mid=166889E54B6E5B34C5E0166889E54B6E5B34C5E0&first=0&FORM=LKVR12
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+and+I%27m+your+baby+tonight+by+whitney+houston&view=detail&mid=166889E54B6E5B34C5E0166889E54B6E5B34C5E0&first=0&FORM=LKVR12
You may wonder how this is connected to C. Wright Mills? Well, for one thing one issue that Whitney faced was drug use. She admitted to using illegal drugs and died of an overdose. While her death and her drug use may seem like personal "troubles", it brought to my attention the issue of prescription drug use. From what I observe, this is really turning out to be an issue. There have been several celebrities who have died from prescription drug use over the last few years, from Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, and Pimp C. Was this Whitney's personal trouble or is it in fact an issue? What do you think?
Another thing to point out is that celebrities have been dying of prescription overdoses since the word celebrity came into existence. Take a look at this link that shows all of the celebrities that have died over the years:
Astonishing, isn't it? How is this connected to Mills ideas and what relevance does it have to ordinary man and American society as a whole?
I'll miss Whitney and at the same time, her death gives us the opportunity to consider Mills' concepts and they ways that an individual is shaped by history and in turn shapes history.
Please respond and try to connect this weeks topic to Mill's sociological concept in your own words. Until next week!!
Professor Applewhite
Follow or Tweet me at @resilient1
Follow or Tweet me at @resilient1
As one of her fans, I'm deeply sorry. She used to have amazing voice. After reading this post, it reminds me of Durkheim's perspective about suicide. Even though her death was not caused by her will, her death brought a lot of societal issues on the surface. It can be depression, modern marriage, drugs, celebrities' death, etc. We need to be aware of that things such as accidents, crime, death, and social event(can be positive) represent our society, and it will shape our behavior, life, thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great article about a great artist and also a great example of how people abuse prescribed drugs. It's not just Whitney that abused her substances, but many people in our society do that as well. I like Frederick's Douglass idea where he states his life as an example of evils of the society.
ReplyDeleteI second Sangeun's comment. I noticed there's a connection between this post and what we discussed in the last class about Durkheim's types of suicide. I would put Whitney's death in the category of "Anomic", where an individual is so disconnected to the norms of society and is used to those norms in many cases not applying to them, that they are overtaken by a feeling of loneliness as their lives are separated from how society lives ad works, which ultimately and evidently commonly drives them to these vices that, as in her case, can have a deadly outcome.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston death was a tragic loss for the music industry and a tragic loss to all her fans, but this just shows how drugs and fame spiraled her life out of control. I'm looking at her death in a sociological way and i categorized her death under Emile Durkheims theory. She was a 48 year old women that had a drug habit , her marriage failed and although to many of her fans her music is there favorites, but to this generation she wasn't making music like before. I believe drugs were her way to cope.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston was one of the greatest singer in the history. She was famous in the universe. However, not only her, but also many celebrities in the United States had a serious problem with drug abuse. According to the link of this post, a shocking Issues is sharply pointed that there is a high rate of drug misuse. This is not only a person "trouble" but an "issue". This post also remind me the "Durkheim's suicide discussion" in lecture that whether "suicide" is a trouble or an issue. In my opinion, it is an issue since a person committed to suicide that would cause a strong societal force to the surrounding people either make them to do the same way or to be depressed.
ReplyDeleteI remember Whitney coming on the scene in the early 80's. My Dad and brother really liked her and my sisters and I did as well. For me Whitney's death is both individual and societal. Fortune and fame can take a toll on anyone. I agree, many celebreties have suffered from addiction. Billy Holiday, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis to name a few. I feel these were people who were just going through the motions. Imagine doing a show all night to then have to do a press conference in the morning and then get on plane etc. Its exhausting to even think about. Drug addition in society is an issue for the simple fact this can happen to anyone.The fact that these people are looked up to is what makes it known and gossip but it is truly an epidemic thats been around before any of our time. I remember watching " Being Bobby Brown" and thinking what is she doing? In my own life I am sure people have said that about me. I pray for her daughter and mom who are probably the most impacted by her death.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston is an idol among all who cherish her and her voice, but we see talented people, wether its a singer, dancer, athlete, and so on, deal with "personal troubles" as much as she did. We don't know for sure what was going through her mind but we can assume several measures of personal troubles her family, friends, or maybe ever her ex-husband Bobby Brown. These divorcees had their fair share of troubles, but in the end they knew they loved one another, according to Justin Ravitz, "Bobby Brown sobs for Whitney onstage" US weekly. Houstons's overdose could also be from pressure from society. Many celebrities deal with scandals, press, and so on... It could be a possible factor that Whitney was under pressure as any celebrity would. There's so many possible things that Houston could of been dealing with in her role in society, but we see her as an idol and legend in the aptitude of music and singing, opposing from any bad things we heard of her. I respect Whitney Houston and any talented people who try to make the best of their career.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston along with many other stars, have misused prescription drugs. Although these deaths were made public and spoke about on the news, many problems regarding prescription drug use are less frequently talked about in our own communities. In 2011,"Prescription drug abuse is an escalating problem on Staten Island, which ranked second-highest in New York state’s 62 counties for the number of overdose deaths due to the medications." Senator Andrew Lanza added that “Every two weeks, one of our neighbors dies of prescription drug overdose...” The statistics are extremely high and it is a growing trend in my community. The media stresses when celebrities pass and why, but it really needs to stress and speak more about the influence they leave when doing things like drugs. Celebrities make drug use "okay" and can almost glamorize the use whether it be prescription or street drugs. The media needs to speak less about celebrities drug use and more on ways to inform the public about the epidemic that not only Staten Island is facing, but New York in general, and try to figure out ways to decrease it. Knowledge on topics like this can really make a difference in our communities.
ReplyDeleteI love your comment and the way that you used data to support your argument.
DeleteThis is a great article and also a terrifying thing to happen to such a great person. Whitney Houston was a great person an an idol to many. Drugs have become a very big issue to many americans and maybe even famous people. I remember when I was young thinking that those people in the television could never get hurt. Maybe her death can open eyes of any in our community today don't see what drugs do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, but you really should change your profile name, because I dont know who loyalty is.
DeleteIt's sad to say but yett drugs has taken another life. Whitney Houston was an idol, a mother, a leader and a great singer. I'm not a big fan of Whitney but I do kow that she has been through a lot in her life. Drugs has a been a societal issue that we all need to try and rid the world off or have it under a more controlled law. To many people are dying from it and who are we to blame? The provider or the user?
ReplyDeleteDrugs seem to be many celebrities kryptonite. Unfortunately for Michael Jackson and Heath Ledger both lost there lives to drugs. Thats why i always saw doctors as legal drug dealers, but we cant always blame the doctors some times its the celebrities fault as well. How i feel this can relate to Mills is that all celebrities are people that either live in a world order or chaos. They have the money to live in order but there choses will decide wether its chaotic or not. Unfortunately for Whitney Houston she had a life of chaos.
ReplyDeletewhitney Houston was a great lost to the music world. Her death deeply sadden me, as you may know whitney had been battling with drugs for over 18 years and its only so much that the human body can take that eventually the body shuts down. Whitney houston was not the only famous singer we lost due to drugs addiction, and its definitely a problem in our society not only in hollywood, nor miami or new york its world wide and its increasing by numbers. I think that this might relate to the promise by C. Wright Mills, by noticing that whitney houston's life wasn't really in order. Married to bobby brown and being introduce to drugs by her own husband had turn her life into total chaos.
ReplyDeleteThe death of Whitney Houston was not only tragic, but I feel was another reason why America and the world needs to understand and try to find an answer to the issues "we" as a society have with drug overdosing. She was added to the list of famous singer/celebrities that have died due to an overdose. I feel personally that if this issue is not addressed and corrected it will only get worse. Even though I was not aware she had drug issues (not sure how I was not) I feel she was an idol to many, especially her fans, and that this is honestly a great loss. To me personally her death made me realize that sometimes even being rich and famous does not necessarily mean the individual is happy with their life.
ReplyDeleteWhitney's death is very shocking,and her death is caused by abusing is very surprised to me or others. And, abusing drugs is also big issue. She migh want to deal her pain with others or rely on others after porbably divorced. I and others may think that she may overcome her obstacles, but she couldn't. Althoug she was very famous singer, she might have had people who resued her from her pain and sadness. That's point makes me surprised and sad. In my point of view, eventhough person who is high status or has fame,he or she needs a love mostly, not reputation and high rank.
ReplyDeleteI think that Whitney's death was sad and untimely especially for her only daughter who is eighteen years old. No eighteen year old would imagine that they would have their mom one day and the next she's gone. I also think that this can go either way for her daughter and cause many people to watch her to see if she's going to follow her mother. Whitney's music had brought people of many races together touching them with her amazing voice and personality. I feel that Whitney's trouble was an issue for her and many celebrities who struggle because of the influence by other celebrities and friends.
ReplyDeleteMills defined a relationship between an individual and the society in which they live. He believed that the individual had an effect on society and the society had an effect on the individual. I think Whitney Houston's accidental overdose, as well as the overdoses of so many others (celebrity or not), is an example of how a societal issue can become an individual trouble. I see these deaths a little differently than my fellow classmates. I think these overdoses are an example of how American society suffers from an issue with consumption. There's nothing wrong with using drugs, the problem is using too much. For hundreds of years Native American tribes have utilized drugs in their religious ceremonies. I am not aware of an overwhelming drug problem in the Native American community, that is until the American expansion into the west drove these people to Reservations where they were forced to adopt a more Americanized society. While they've resisted adopting an American way of life to some extent, the high rates of alcoholism in Native American tribes is a testament to how far they've been pushed from their traditional societal structure. America has built a society around consumption: food, oil, energy, drugs; the solution to the increasing prescription drug overdose issue is not to produce less drugs or to lockup those who do - the solution is MODERATION.
ReplyDeleteI think that whitney's death was a personal thing. She had up's and down's. The reason i think this is because i don't think the general public cares about celebrity's prescription drug use habits. They only care when the celebrity uses illegal drugs and then creates some sort of scene. Now that i think about it the only way it really connects to society is creating entertainment for us. It's not that i don't feel bad but at the same time i understand fame can be a crazy thing to handle but you should have doctors who you can ask what pills to take and what not to take. I guess being really famous makes you feel invincible and in a weird screwed up way every time a celebrity dies it reminds us that we're only human. Again whoever reads this i don't want you to think i'm a bad kind of person just a guy with a (perspective)
ReplyDeleteI believe that Whitney Houston's death can make adults, teenagers and children realize that the decisions we take can make a big impact in our lives as it can lead us to many failures and even death. Whitney chooses to use drugs and throws her career away which causes to loose her life. Drugs are a big problem in today’s society as everyone seems to be influenced by it. Whitney’s death has touch our community as she was the greatest vocalist of all time.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston's death was both a personal trouble but at the same time it represent an issue that impacted our society as a all. Her death like many of the others celebrities left a stain in our society, which one way or another change us. Perhaps, this type of issues demonstrate that American society is not perfect or never there as many others countries believe. Drugs have being always a huge issue for many people who doesn't have any other way to cope with their problems. Of course an example of this was Whitney Houston an star that stop shining, leaving a mark in our society that will never be erased.
ReplyDeleteMs. Houston's death sent a message to some celebrities even people in general. Drugs can hurt you. It also makes me wonder, she was famous, wealthy, beautiful and beyond a beautiful voice ; what lead her to want to take drugs and hurt herself in such way. Does she relate to what i call "The regular people" society, or is this something that's really common in the celebrity life. Are they just as lost and i feel most individuals are. Drugs lately is taking a toll on a lot of peoples lives. Don't you ever wonder what goes on with these celebrities who have everything to push them to take these drugs ?
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston's death shows iite society on what happens as a consequences of consuming drugs. Drugs may not hurt one external but internally its damgingyou day by day. Even today drugs play a huge role may teenagers are doing them but don't realize the damage they are doing to themselves. In the case of whitney Houston it shows how a famous person can leave a story even when the person is no longer with us.
ReplyDeleteWhitney's death has bro9ught awareness to many people the globe. its sad to see how talented people waste their opportunities in useless activities. its true what people say, "prescription drugs does kill talent." but in a way drugs could have been the only relaxation that Whitney could rely on. She was a fascinating artist who had live up to expectations. Yet she had to handle, loosing the love of her life, loosing her father, and dealing with a teenage daughter who has doing drugs. sometimes being rich and famous isn't one of the best things that could happen. i could relate Whitney's problem to Emile Durkheim because "suicide isn't an individual act." Whitney took drugs to deal with the problems other people gave her, that eventually became hers.
ReplyDeleteI loved many of whitney's music, her death was shocking to me because i havnt heard any news from her and than finally when i did, its about her death but honestly the way she died wasnt a shocker at all, its soo tipical for a celebrity to die from an overdoes or sucide, its almost like a trend for them. Like its either they are depressed from situations in their lifes and all the media attention that they feel underpressure or that they are plain stupid... because they see many talented people as well dying from this reason accidental or not so why would it be someones faults for their actions when they clearly see the consiquences unless they wanna kill themselves. Her issues were personal but surroded by media makes the issues become more stressful because they live with that constant reminder for their rest of their career causing it be a part of their everyday life. It grows on them eating them alive leading to suicde or "accidental overdoes". Everyday oridnary people die from overdoeses too, but you dont see anyone making it a big fuse.Percerptions drugs and overdoes needs to be handled because its really a easy way to commit suicde.
ReplyDeleteIt was shocking to see Whiteny's death on the news instead of advertising herself. It was a little typical for another celebrity to die from an overdoes. Celebrities make the wrong choice by taking their perception drugs with alcohol knowing the instruction clearly says " Do not take with alcohol". I do understand it is stressing to constantly have the media all around them, and having to watch thier own move very sec, I do not look at this as an issue but a personal issue. Whiteny had to know what she was getting herself into, all do respect I am a big fan, but she made a choice in a life which was not to follow the instruction that where on the bottle and drink alcohol as she took her pills. It was said by her daughter that she would have to pick up her mother from the floor when she would overdose. What she did not expect was seeing her mother go over broad. It's a personal issue when a person takes pills if alcohol to hurt themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor me Whitney Houston death had not been a surprise for me, though I was shocked and deviated at the absent of my favorite singer being dead, I don't think it was all her fault, the fact that you pointed out other celebrities dying or overdosing on prescription drugs have a bigger meaning in our society, then just poor Whitney Houston.
ReplyDeleteThe focus should be on The people prescribing these drugs, many people especially the celebrities are dying and theres defiantly a bigger idea then a personal issue among celebrities
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was really shocked when i find out the news of Whitney Houston's tragic death by the drugs overdose. She had one of the greatest voices in history and she will never be forgotten just like Michael Jackson.Nevertheless, not only her, but also many people in the World going through with the issues of drug addiction.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion,Whitney Huston is an Example of how societal issues can become an individual trouble or vise versa.Mills is also stating that a sociologist cannot examine sociological issues in society without taking into account individuals and their troubles and history.We don't know exactly what troubles Whitney had in her life but It could be depression, marriage, personal or societal pressure and drugs etc.
I can say that I shed tears when Ms. Whitney died because I loved her music and her movies that I watched over and over. I don't think that her drug abussive should take away from her talent . She changed many lives and I was shocked by her death because it seemed she was getting better. I wish I could have seen her in concert one day. Society always judges people on the negative and ignores the positive.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't surprise me that Whitney Houston passed away from a drug overdose but I was not expecting it to happen at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteI think drug use and prescription abuse can be a personal problem in Houston's situation but it is most definitely an issue, one that is very important, in today's society. Drug exposure is more illuminated then anyone would imagine, in the media and in our everyday lives and I think in today's society the organizations and groups working together are helping to reduce the amount of drug overdoses and help addicts before it gets as far as an overdose.
I lost one of my really good friends to drugs the day after his 19th birthday. It started with prescription drugs because his mother was a nurse and had easy access in their home and over time I saw how it escalated out of control and those drugs were not enough. It can be an issue of not enough attention or just because it feels good but we find ourselves seeing these issues in everyday society. With Houston's death, immediate reactions were negative and was focused on how out of control she was, not about how incredible a person she was. These celebrities have all of the access to any help or resources they can think of. It is trying to understand why Whitney Houston thought she needed drugs to get through her everyday life and cause more problems for herself and the people she was loved and surrounded by.
Everyone knew about Ms. Houstons drug problem, however, she was still and will always remain a sensational singer. To me her death was an absolute shock and still is. As for myself, I thought she had fought through her drug problem. This to me shows how hard some situations can be on a person to overdose on drugs to feel better, knowing that they may die. There should be some kind of way to prevent drugs from falling into the wrong hands of people. With the tragic lost, it shows how societal issues can really get to an individual whether its harm to ones self or to someone else. May she rest in peace and overdosing on drugs come to an end.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston's death became a social event which influenced a large number of people. The phenomenon of public people like her is that they are always under the constant pressure of the press, TV, etc. They have to always satisfy the high expectations of a huge number of people (especially, fans). At the same time, parallel with their public life, they also live their private lives where different events may be happening (often negative). Such a hard duty to always lead two lives make it impossible for some of the public figures to tolerate the pressure, and they start taking drugs.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it's this internal conflict between the private and social lives that led to the tragedy of Whitney Houston. In our memories, she will always remain a great singer, but a not so happy woman.
When I heard whitney Houston died I really didn't believe it at first because my little niece told me, but when Iwent on facebook and turn on the Tv to the news channel,it was true. Whitney Houston was more than a singer to alot of people she was someone who children and adults look up to.I will never forget for my junior high school graduation My fellow classmate and I song The Greatest Love of all.That song iss very touching meaning it makes someone feels that no matter what they shouldn't give up on their dreams.R.I.P to Ms.Houston.I will remember her as a marvelous singer.The Good things
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Whitney Houston is added onto a long list of people whose lives have been claimed by drug abuse. It is a shame that such a talented person should have to die that way or anyone should die in such a manner. This affects society for several reasons the first one being that she was very much in the public eye so alot of people looked up to her therefore this had an affect on society since it was so open for everyone due to her being famous and well liked and she serves as a role model for alot of people. Hopefully this will bring drug abuse into the public spotlight and bring more ways to help stop it before it claims more lives.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Houston is one of the greatest artists that we ever had. I believe that when an artist dies, their albums sell like hotcakes. I myself bought Whitney's greatest hits after her tragic death. I also didn't believe Whitney Houston died when I heard about it. I don't know why their doctors can't see the problems they are dealing with and really help them. I also thought Heath Ledger was an amazing actor and was sorry to see him go. If the artists are having trouble, I think they should see a psychiatrist and talk about their problems.
ReplyDelete