Wayne's World is a blueprint for the just-pre-celeblog character type.
But let's back up a bit:
In the 90's, the huge moral conflict with grunge/alternative/indie culture had much to do with "selling out." This is nowhere more apparent than with Kurt Cobain. One of the driving forces for Cobain's depression and eventual suicide was the knowledge that his art and lifestyle were being used to peddle t-shirts, CDs, TV ads on MTV, etc.
In their own neighborhood, Wayne and Garth exist in a veritable Garden of Eden that is the birthplace of their creative genius; the location of the wombish basement where their show comes to fruition, protected from the money hungry Benjamin. And it is out on the street while playing hockey that Garth remarks, "I don't think Benjamin is one of us." And he's not just talking about Benjamin's lack of love for hole-riddled, acid wash jeans and open flannel shirts.
Benjamin is offering them money for their art, and then some. The same things asked of Kurt: let use your art as a tire on the consumption vehicle and we'll give you some of our returns.
Obviously this is sort of a bleak picture. But it struck me that it seems this moral conflict no longer exists. Whether it be the fashion designers on project runway who come to the show with their own brand of design, their own ideas, an organic sense of fashion and a raw talent; or writers in the blogosphere receiving huge sums in their Paypal accounts.
Something must have happened between Wayne's World and Web 2.0.
My theory is that the idea of celebrity, fame, notoriety and money have all come to be seen differently in 2008 than it was over 16 years ago when Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey played out the central conflict bearing down on late-80's/90's alternative culture.
Is it that the web has made celebrity and wealth self-attainable/sustainable and therefore not as evil? Surely with this angle, one makes one's own fame; does not sell one's art to Pepsi or Doritos. But to make the big bucks, one still has to put up banners for American Apparel, some blog haus bands., etc. However, these ads get attention from people who choose to view them and are not a requisite component of one's participation in the art.
The main difference between Wayne & Co. and those in the contemporary alt-culture sphere is that celebrity has made its way into the realm of consumables. Whereas Wayne could not acheive celebrity and fame and fortune without great personal sacrifice (of ethics/morals, autonomy), such is no longer necessary for a Perez Hilton, whose personal lifestyle and individuality is only further vindicated by his monetary and celeb success.
Wayne's World, yall.
