Yesterday at a barbecue I spoke to two intelligent young ladies, one a 13-year-old and the other 14. One of the adults at the gathering told the two girls that I photograph celebrities. They asked me who I have shot, and I said, “Over 500 people.”
Like who? they wanted to know. I told them to throw out some names.
“Megan Fox?!”
“No. I don’t even know who she is.”
“The Jonas Brothers?”
“No, but I almost went to an event for them.”
“Shia Leboeuf? He’s so hot.”
“No, but I agree with you.”
“Have you photographed anyone from Twilight?”
“Um, no…but I had an affair with Robert Pattinson.”
“He’s gay?!”
“No, I’m joking.”
“Anyone from Harry Potter?”
I told them that I had not, although I forgot that I had photographed Alan Rickman, who plays Professor Snape. Still, that would have been no Daniel Radcliffe to their young imaginations. I tried to think of a name they would be certain to know.
“I photographed Bono from U2.”
They just stared at me. Neither the 13-year-old nor the 14-year had any idea who Bono is, looking at me as if I had just said the name of some esoteric circus clown and not one of the giants of rock and philanthropy.
“Do you know who Bon Jovi is?” I tried.
The 14-year-old had heard the name, the 13-year-old had no clue. The twenty year age difference between us was suddenly transparent.
“What about Madonna? Do you know who Madonna is?! I photographed her.”
Yes, they had heard of her, but they don’t really know much about her. Same thing Mariah Carey, whose music they could take or leave.
“I shot Hilary Duff,” I said, trying to think of people in their world.
“Ew,” replied the 13 year old.
“Kanye West.”
“I know who he is,” said the 14-year-old. “He’s okay.”
“How about The Rock? Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson?”
At this both their eyes got big, and the 13-year-old said, You photographed The Rock?!
So with the lovely 14- and 13-year-old ladies in mind, I went home last night and uploaded a number of Dwayne-The Rock-Johnson JPGs, now available in the Creative Commons (all information below is via Wikipedia):
UPDATE 6/15: Originally this post was about a 14- and 12-year-old, but after howls of protest, I corrected it to be about a 14- and 13-year-old.
Dwayne Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his former ring name The Rock, and occasionally credited as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is a Canadian-American actor and former professional wrestler.
Johnson married Dany Garcia (above) on May 3, 1997, a day after his 25th birthday. They have a daughter, Simone Alexandra, born August 14, 2001. On June 1, 2007, Johnson and Garcia announced that they would be splitting up after 10 years of marriage. They indicated that their parting was amicable and that they would spend the rest of their lives together as best friends.
He filmed guest roles on Star Trek: Voyager and That ’70s Show where he played his father, Rocky Johnson. His motion picture debut was a brief appearance as The Scorpion King in the opening of The Mummy Returns.
Johnson was featured in the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest salary as an actor in his first starring role, receiving $5.5 million.
Because his mother, Ata Maivia, had royal blood, Samoan King Malietoa Tanumafili II bestowed Johnson with the noble title of Seiuli during his visit to Samoa in July 2004.
Johnson was a nine time world champion in his career, being a seven time WWF/E Champion (with his last reign being the WWE Undisputed Champion) and two time WCW Champion. He is a two time Intercontinental Champion and a five time Tag Team Champion. He is the sixth Triple Crown Champion and was the winner of the 2000 Royal Rumble.
Wikipedia photos to be deleted
NYC Wedding March – September 26, 2010
Joaquin Phoenix is a poser
Flushing Meadow Corona Park skate park
East Village Park and Williamsburg Bridge photos
100 People I Photographed for the Creative Commons
Pakistan flood devastation statistics
Cordoba House / Ground Zero mosque protest photos
The void in my blogging (and some photos)
Rihanna video with Eminem about Chris Brown?
He’s hot. The girls have exquisite taste!
There were a bunch of giggles and many….”But I’m THIRTEEEEEEN!!!!”
I don’t understand why these tween girls would get so excited over The Rock but not any of the other people you have photographed.
Twitter: davidshankbone
says:
Hi Vivian – it’s just generational. Mom also severely limits television, so what they know about popularly likely comes from their friends and schoolmates. That tends to be the zeitgeist, and I don’t think rock is a 13 year old girl’s usual music choice.
Kids!