A Blood Transmitted Right

In Italy they are called “figli d’arte”, literally “Children of the Arts” This saying evokes the assumption that Arts can have children and gift them with talent almost like ancient Greek gods used to. But is it the case?

The Muse can get it right, spreading talent and keeping money and fame inside lucky families. We have proud examples, such as Stella McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow and Charlotte Gainsbourg. It’s not surprising that where arts and expression is lived and breathe daily, a gifted child becomes a star. In the presence of a gift, doors are easily open to those who already have the precious key to success.

However, doubts come along when celebrities’ offspring are forced on us. Suddenly, we see their photos in the press, with their eccentric outfits matching their extravagant names, rubbing the uniqueness of their written destiny in our common faces. Surely, when we need to ask ourselves what certain celebrities did to be famous, we easily come to a conclusion that if fame is only in their name, their presence in the limelight is pure show off. Fashion magazines are the favourite destinations of these aimless cases.

The Jagger daughters entered them cat-walking, helped by their motherly gift of beauty, not so much by the fatherly music talent. As for the Geldof girls, who are neither pretty nor well dressed, one wonders whether their funny names are the only interesting thing about them. From Amber LeBon to Coco Summer, from Lourdes Ciccone to Zoe Kravitz, it seems like every red carpet and catwalk first row is occupied by these Children of the Arts. But why do they attract so much attention?

Some people compare them to the royal family: what have they done to be famous? Others admit that the obsession lies behind a How the Other Half Live concept of discovering the secrets of a rich and famous life: what they eat, how they dress, live, party or whip their hair back and forth. We want to see and criticise, discover that perhaps money does not make you clever; that even with money and infinite opportunities, some of these children are there posing for a camera, sitting on their parents achievements, forgetting to build their own life and career. Fame is to them like a blood transmitted right, in a Katie Price era, when fame is reachable by everyone.