American Idol/Japanese Silence
Though I am no fan of American idol, I have usually dismissed the ridicule dished out by its judges as somehow justified because I assumed that the people auditioning were simply trying to get on TV….perhaps reproduce William Hung’s success. However, I heard an interview with an American Idol producer which said that this year they are specifically targeting the “deluded wannabees.”
As I sat in my car letting these words reverberate with me as I drove to work, I realized what the producer was saying. “We are looking for people who have either been lied to or failed to realize themselves that they are not good singers. We are going to put them on national TV, humiliate them, dash their dreams, rip their hearts out, and reduce them to tears. Why, do you ask…because the viewing audience at home will get a laugh out of it.”
As I realized that the a major part of the appeal is the shameful joy we take in mocking other people, I was reminded of a quote from the book Silence by Shusaku Endo:
“Sin, he reflected, is not what it is usually thought to be; it is not to steal and tell lies. Sin is for one man to walk brutally over the life of another and to be quite oblivious of the wounds he has left behind.”
American idol trashes people’s lives and justifies it because it is done in an entertaining and humorous way. It is teaching us to savor other people’s misery. Or, perhaps, it is just selling us the misery we want to see. Either way, you can count me out.
So what do you think?
posted by steve | 8:29 AM
9 Comments:
Both are interesting books...neither one quite giving what one would expect.
I guess I am more interested, at least in this post, in the analysis of American Idol.
Is my position justified? Are there voices in opposition? Have I missed something?
Steve,
Interesting thoughts. I'm not an expert on the show, but I have a couple observations in the little I have seen this year.
1. Most of the judges are fairly professional and straightforward (even Simon sometimes) in their assessment of a contestant, even when they really stink. Its mostly when the contestant is insistant or just crazy that the judges push back a little. So I did't get the feeling that they are "out to get" people.
2. Intentionally making someone miserable is bad, but watching someone in misery is not. Take sports for example. I watched Andy Roddick get humiliated by Roger Federer the other day. He was definitely miserable, but in a competition, someone is going to lose and possibly be unhappy.
Also, I don't really get too excited about listening to people sing horribly. Its funny once it a while, but I think most people want to hear good singers. If a show only about bad singers made great ratings, they would all make it to Hollywood.
So, yes, there are some deluded wannabees that do get humiliated, but I think it is mostly their own doing and a biproduct of competition.
Vijay,
I think you analogy would apply for the final stage of this competition...when it is a contest of more or less equals.
Initially, though, it is the stated purpose of American Idol to draw an audience by, in part, showcasing "deluded wannabes" (their words not mine) and mocking them in order to get a laugh.
Example: I saw a portion of an interview Ryan Seacrest did with one such contestant. Seacrest pretended to sympathize but was actually mocking him to his face.
Few, if any, watch tennis because its funny to watch people being humilated. I maintain that there is a sizeable audience that watches American Idol for precisely that reason...and American Idol throws unsuspecting prey to the wolves.
Well, certainly there is an aspect of the show that emphasizes mocking and humiliation. I can't say that I get a big kick out of it, but as you say, I'm sure there is a "sizeable audience" that does.
Aaron,
I think the net you are casting is a bit broad. There is a distinction that needs to be drawn. The key word in Aristotle is "imitation." Laughing at someone pretending to sing bad is one thing. Laughing at someone who is being humilated for thinking he can sing is a whole different think. Those arent actors on American Idol. Those are people whose lack of talent and subsequent misery at the hands of the judges is being exploited to earn a cheap laugh.
Regarding boycots: I hinted at how I feel at the end of my post when I said that perhaps they are selling us what we want to see. The fault lies with ourselves.
I, for one, will refrain from participation in an event which reinforces taking shameful joy in other person's misery.
Shameful joy ...I wish there was a good German word for that.
Why is Simon popular....isnt it at least in part because he humiliates the untalended in humorous ways for the amusement of others.
If you can read the quote from Silence and honestly say that you dont think this constitutes running rough-shod over someone elses life, more power to you. I personally think this aspect of American Idol encourages people to find humor in other people's sorrow/humiliation.
this reminds me of a simpsons episode where (i think) homer enters a video of a man getting hit in the crotch with a football in the local film festival (or maybe it is just that he likes that film the best). the guy getting hit in the crotch is probably not an actor and if he was there would be a little less humor in the video.
Thank you, Paul, for your comment. It referenced the Simpsons and pushed us into double digits in number of comments. Does life get any better than this...I submit that it cannot.
Humiliating others is cool.
Hey guys, this discussion really intrigues me. I know I'm late in the game here but that just means I might get the last word, especially if know one reads this at all (woo hoo!)
Basically, my view comes from the fact that humiliating other human beings is simply human. Every civilization has seen fit to somehow dehumanize, debase, or degrade other humans in some form or another. Only permitted where socially acceptable mind you, and most notably sanctioned on the "lower-cast/class outsider," whomever that may be.
Let's be honest with outselves, we have trends to dehmanize groups and like it. People better than us make us feel less human as well, and if they can do it, so shall we.
Two quick and dirty examples -
1. Clowns - dehumanized beings whose soul purpose is that of being humiliated by others or at most, existing as an object for entertainment. You can also look up where historically clowns evolved from.
2. Child Prodigies - every time I watch talk shows, and the like, parade them around, my hatred almost matches my own self pity at the lack of amazing accomplishments in my life. Clenched fists, and watery eyes, I curse the ground they walk upon.
In short, stupid people make me feel good - American Idol stays.
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