Media Mavericks

Back in the 1980’s and part of the 1990’s before the internet really took hold, divorce was just as scandalous as an affair. People could be winners in the image race by how they behaved and took charge of the problem for example Ivana Trump came out the model for first wives everywhere. Ivana Trump is best known, not for for her business savvy or multiple marriages afterwards but for her famous saying “Don’t get mad, get everything.” Prince Charles is still recovering his image from Princess Diana’s manipulation of the media. Diana was a media maverick in that she was able to get her causes publicity because she gave what the people wanted, a story line of unhappily ever after. She gave details to the public so they felt like they knew her and could relate but they never knew her next move. Princess Diana was always three steps ahead until her death.

Now in the time of social media, marriages and child rearing can spawn into lifestyle websites. Take for instance the latest in trends “Conscious Uncoupling”, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have announced on Gwyneth’s lifestyle website Goop that they will be ending their marriage in this manner. Goop is a website magazine that points out the positives that life has to offer.  Skeptics observe that this term is not a movement in how family’s are handling separation but the next move in living with divorce in the eyes of the media. By making “Concious Uncoupling” a trend it is actually an attempt in keeping within the positive imagery that Paltrow has portrayed throughout her career. The newest trend overall in divorce coverage is to give the media nothing to report by going out with the partner and looking romantic or amicable. Kris and Bruce Jenner have been showing signs of romantic gestures in public but Kris has been shown with a young boyfriend. In their case, it could be keeping up with the story lines of “Keeping up with the Kardashians”   No matter what the case may be, who will come out the winner?

Goop.com (2014). What’s goop?. Retrieved from:http://www.goop.com/about/whats-goop

Farrell, M.J. (1990). The trumps head for divorce court. People Magazine, (33) 8, Retrieved from: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20116915,00.html

McClear, S. (2014). Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s split has not stopped them from sticking together : Why celebrity couples cannot quit each other. NY Daily News, Retrieved from: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/celebs-gwyneth-paltrow-give-new-meaning-breaking-article-1.1746014

Roberts, R. (1997). The princess and the press: A dance ending in death. Washington Post. Retrieved from:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/diana/stories/press0904.htm