A cause célèbre is a highly publicized incident or legal case that attracts attention and controversy. The term originated in France in the 1700s and has spread globally with increased communication. Political issues, legal cases, and individuals can become causes célèbres, often with notoriety. Examples include the OJ Simpson trial, Roe v Wade, and the Pentagon Papers. Victims of abductions or violent assaults can also attract media attention.
An incident or issue that attracts a lot of public attention and comment is known as a cause célèbre. The term can also be used to refer to a notable legal case or incident. Often, a cause célèbre is accompanied by notoriety, as unpleasant incidents and matters tend to attract more attention and controversy. Many people and newspapers use the term, usually in reference to political issues and incidents, although non-political events can also become cause celebrity.
The term has been taken directly from the French language and means “a celebrated case”. The term’s widespread use in France began in the 1700s, when a publisher put together a compendium of famous and interesting legal cases. The concept of cause célèbre spread from the Channel to England, and entered into common use. As the systems of communicating and transmitting news around the world increase, so does the number of causes célèbres, as more and more people become aware of them.
A well-known legal case could become a cause célèbre because it sets an important precedent or resolves an important issue. The OJ Simpson trial became a cause célèbre in the 1990s, for example, when it was widely publicized and commented on. The famous Supreme Court ruling Roe v Wade was another famous cause célèbre in the United States because it set the stage for the legalization of abortion. In this particular case, the root cause has also become a political issue.
Political issues such as wars, national security, poverty, and health care can also become star causes, especially during the election cycle. Often, a newspaper or journalist will make attention to such an issue a major focus, thus turning it into a cause célèbre. The Pentagon Papers, for example, were a major cause célèbre, because they exposed the reality of the Vietnam War to the public.
An individual can also become a cause célèbre, being linked to an accident or problem. Victims of abductions or violent assaults can attract a great deal of media attention, as can people who perform unusual, courageous, or socially repugnant acts. Even after the incident has long passed, the cause célèbre may continue to be well known and identified with the event, as was the case with Lizzie Borden. Individuals can struggle with their media fame, especially when they attract attention because they have done something that many people consider socially unacceptable.
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