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Jane

T.V.2.0

by Jane []
Published on 4/4/07 in Music
I have changed my mind. A vote for Sanjaya is a vote for freedom.
As three of Drivl's most prolific contributors (Rebecca, Scott and me) are obsessive American Idol watchers, I'm going to annoy you call again with another Idol post. The three of us have sat around for the past few weeks lamenting the sickly rise of the talentless Sanjaya Malakar, but I've reached a turning point in my view of Sanjaya. I still don't like him (he looks more and more like a chi-mo every week), but this Best Week Ever article has somewhat swayed my opinion of Sanjaya. I agree with the BWE pundits. The popularity of Sanjaya says more about the political environment in America than it does about how stupid America's fourteen year olds and grannies are.

The public is voting for Sanjaya because they know AI's producers would rather have anyone but him win. Who knows why he was let into the final rounds of the competition; whoever makes the final decisions as to who advances probably counted on him being voted off the show pretty quickly. No one banked on this cultural first -- people participating in huge numbers in order to make the show worse.

Now, bear with me, guys. I know you're rolling your eyes and thinking, "she's not really going to make a political point and use a pop music competition as supporting evidence?!" But I am.

I wasn't in America in 2001, but I arrived here less than a year after 9/11. I'm told that the intense patriotism this country now exhibits wasn't nearly as prolific before 2001. The flags weren't as numerous, questioning people in positions of power was more acceptable and dissent wasn't quite as synonymous with terrorism. The America I knew for five years was one in which you didn't ask questions. In all walks of life, you voted for the mainstream, sugar-coated, safe contestants.

Now, I'm thinking that the public is starting to wise up a bit. We've discovered some things about society, media and politics that we either didn't know, or that we forgot. In the past year, Joe Public has taken over a large chunk the internet thanks to (among other sites) Digg, MySpace and Blogspot. I'm not a fan of any of those sites as they're primarily filled with crap, but their influence may be positive. Digg let people know that CNN and MSNBC weren't the only places to find news. MySpace and Blogspot let everyone have a customised website. Web 2.0 gave people power online; now, we're taking it to mainstream media, too.

Up until this season of American Idol, the public have largely voted for the contestants whom the judges like. We saw a glimpse of mutiny last season with the premature departure of Chris Daughtry (who was more talented than those who beat him), but winner Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee were safe, cute and producer-acceptable. In the past six years, the public has not revolted against such a stalwart of the American cultural landscape, mounting a deliberate sabotage.

We're also now well aware of the charade behind American Idol. We know that the audition process is scripted, edited and packaged like so much American cheese. While only the most naive among us would ever have believed what we saw on the shows was the real deal, we're now aware that nothing we see is remotely accurate. Some of us don't care; it's just entertainment. However, it seems that a great deal of people are trying to make a mockery out of a show, a network and a culture that makes huge amounts of money out of our compliance. By voting for Sanjaya, we fail to comply.

I assume that next season, the judges will be far more careful as to who they promote to the show's top twenty-four. I doubt we will see any more "unique" candidates make it through, as people will look for another Sanjaya to champion.

I used to be in favour of Sanjaya being booted off the show immediately, but now I'm not so sure. Musically, he doesn't deserve to be there, but I'm interested in what his continued Idol stint says about the power of the public to mount a backlash against established expectations. I now hope that he is not solely the beneficiary of thousands of votes coming from India or from adolescent girls. I hope he's being voted for by the adult American public who are sick of pageant queens and Ashlee Simpson. I hope that at least some of them are voting for Idol's version of Ashlee in order to make a point about their  growing power over mass-media, the bullshit-laden music industry and fact that they've woken up from the "don't ask questions" era.

His popularity is a fascinating social phenomenon and I hope he goes much further than the top nine. Even if you don't care about the show, at least care about what the power of the public can do to a large, powerful institution.

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20 Comments

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ScottWill

Scott Willoughby
I saw the BWE article as well and actually kind of agree (despite loathing Sanjaya with at least 65% of the fibres in my being). What will be awesome is if he wins and then sells exactly 37 copies of his album. It may be worthwhile to fuck with the show, but who's gonna spend money on that douchebag? Written on 4/4/07

JaneCopland

Jane
I dislike him a lot, but find myself now hoping that he doesn't get kicked off. I'm not sorry for the more talented singers who get booted instead of him; they're lucky to get the exposure they've enjoyed, because 99% of talented people get absolutely nothing. Written on 4/4/07

Bodero

Bo Dero
"I wasn't in America in 2001, but I arrived here less than a year after 9/11. I'm told that the intense patriotism this country now exhibits wasn't nearly as prolific before 2001. The flags weren't as numerous, questioning people in positions of power was more acceptable and dissent wasn't quite as synonymous with terrorism. The America I knew for five years was one in which you didn't ask questions. In all walks of life, you voted for the mainstream, sugar-coated, safe contestants."

Didn't take you long to jump the shark. Jane, once you're a bit older, you'll realize that being "cool" doesn't require you to question authority every step of the way. I'm not saying what you suggest, that questioning the government makes you a terrorist. In fact, that entire line just screams of the garbage that a DailyKoser would say.

But, I can understand how most of the libs out there can easily dismiss the terrorism threat that we are facing today. It's hard to realize the significance with the mainstream media barking down our throat every day about us being the aggressors, redefining the rules and morality of what's right and what's wrong.

Look, I understand what you're trying to do here (see adequacy). However, you're doing it wrong. There are way more idiots on the other side of the fence.

HTH. HAND. Written on 4/4/07

ScottWill

Scott Willoughby
Ah, I love Republicans who believe that appreciation of The Constitution and the freedoms and liberties it guarantees, is something someone "grows out of" or believes in because it's "cool."

I'm not a populist, liberal or Democrat because it's cool. I fight for the things I do because they're right, and fair, and just. Let's face it, the modern Republican party and the neo-conservative movement embrace the politics of bigotry, exclusion and greed. That's something I doubt I'll ever grow into. Written on 4/4/07

Bodero

Bo Dero
Ah yes, the bigotry, exclusion and greed that stems from the belief that anyone at all can achieve immense success by ambition, ingeniuty, and intelligence. Put simply, unlike the neocoms, the neocons believe that the color of your skin, who you do or do not pray to, what's growing between your legs, or hell - try me - in the stink or in the pink, should NOT affect how successful you can potentially be in life. And please, do not even bring up the Democrats appreciating the Constitution. Written on 4/4/07

ScottWill

Scott Willoughby
This is simply laughable. It's also quite frightening in its delusional sincerity. Written on 4/4/07

Bodero

Bo Dero
Thank you for your rebuttal. I stand corrected. Written on 4/4/07

JaneCopland

Jane
You'd be more compelling if you weren't so patronizing. Written on 4/4/07

sportrider

Sidharth Iyer
The color of your skin matters a WHOLE lot to neocons. Please don't bullshit me.

Ive been dragged to the principle's office, been strip searched during lunch break, and failed a class, cos I wrote a report on 9/11 that focused on the causes, rather than the evillness of arabs, and the awesomeness of President Bush.

Also, please define what a neocon is. I have yet to meet two neocons who agreed on what a neocon is. Personally I think whoever came up with that watched The Matrix one too many times. Written on 5/4/07

dillivered

Brett
I disagree with Jane because I am looking past the patronizing tone of your comments and I still don't find you at all compelling. It isn't "cool" to question authority every step of the way, it's absolutely necessary. That is the only "grown up" way to look at it. No matter what wing you represent. If you aren't thoughtful enough to question it you shouldn't give it away.

Written on 4/4/07

JaneCopland

Jane
I love you. He's not really compelling; I should have written, "you'd be less pathetic if you weren't so patronizing."

I'm definitely not the most liberal person I know. I also don't know how old I have to get before this realization of my idiocy sets in. Thirty-four? Forty-two? Sixty? Written on 5/4/07

dillivered

Brett
Ya you could have written that and now that you have, I love you too, hahaha. Anyway most conservatives I know thrive on that kind of thing because they get to try and paint an irrational image of their adversaries. Get too sharp with them and they instantly fall back on their fortified defenses with, "you are not being rational." Oh that's brilliant isn't it? Let's not forget that if you disagree with them you are instantly a liberal, and they will waste about half of their day trying to prove that you are in fact, a liberal. On the other wing, I love it when liberals spend half of their day trying to prove to me that I am in fact, not understanding their argument at all, because if I did, I would inevitably agree with them. Since I don't though, they like to blame Fox News...a network that I only frequent, on occasion, to point out why it's so full of crap. Good times for everyone. Makes me want to drift into an alchohol induced coma....but good times.

Oh and the age is all relative to the particular conservative you're speaking with. If he's 29, then, 29. 52? You see the trend. Any way it goes you're out of luck, because you just aren't old enough. And when you're finally over the hill dealing with conservatives your age. Guess what. You grew up with the liberal media and if you had been able to see through it, you would probably see things their way. Ya, fun isn't it? I don't know about you, but apparently growing up in an ultra conservative household means that I only call myself a moderate because I am rebelling...which is why I buy into the liberal media. Uh huh. I have absolutely no ability to filter information from all angles. Not at all. I am completely slave to my Freudian impulses. <---dripping with sarcasm. Written on 5/4/07

JaneCopland

Jane
The whole "age will make you more conservative" thing is just ridiculous. My father is more liberal than I am and he is 59. Most of the rabid conservatives I know are younger than me. Written on 5/4/07

dillivered

Brett
Agreed. People will point to anything that they think will help them point out the credibility they assume they have. Age is just a convenience for some. Written on 5/4/07

Killer

Ty Henry
Does anyone really think that American Idol cares WHY people are watching and voting? They make their money off of advertising revenue, which is based wholly upon viewership. I, for one, don't watch AI, and have no interest in the show. There are millions of people just like me. But all of this talk about this Sanjay guy is HUGE publicity for AI. Personally, I think the show is dumb and the judges are frauds - hence I don't watch it. But I think what is happening is hilarious . . . and I support it. I'm not curious enough to start watching, but there will be MANY like me who will. The faithful will continue to watch since, I assume, most of the other contestants really are good. A few will stop watching. But I imagine viewership will rise. I imagine the number of text "votes" will increase. The result will be huge bucks for the AI producers. Something tells me they won't feel too threatened by this backlash. They'll be too busy counting their money. I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist, but . . . nevermind. Having said all that - vote for the guy! The comedic value is there. Written on 4/4/07

girlinlove

Girlinlove
I agree with Killer, although I do see what you're saying, here. I can see that this could be some kind of statement, if you want to look at it that way.

I do think that Killer is right in his assessment of AI's concern for the motives of the voting public. Publicity is publicity, and I doubt they are scratching their chins in regret--especially not as they are also shoveling dollars in their pockets. Seacrest said tonight that last night's show had the highest call volume of the whole season.

My fiance wisely noted that Sanjaya sang close to the end of the show for a reason. They put him there in hopes more people would watch the whole thing just to be there to see what Sanjaya would do. He is a moneymaker for them, big time.

I have to say I pity him-he knows he's outclassed, but he can't just give up. Even if he does win, he doesn't have what it takes to sell albums. This is making a mockery of him at only 17. If I weren't also pointing and laughing, I might get a little emo about the whole thing. Written on 4/4/07

dillivered

Brett
I love what you've said here and I would love to see America grow up as a whole. We accept a lot of things in this country that really just look silly to the rest of the world, I guess, I don't have a lot of experience with the rest of the world. Anyway here is where I disagree with you. Most people I know realized after the first episode that the show was very controlled and very processed. Yet a huge portion of those people still watch it. My guess. Sanjaya won't win. Next year they'll come up with some new trick to bring everybody back. If he does win? Oh well. They'll still talk about how next year it's going to be more legit and all of the die hard fans will feel justified. The show will survive Sanjaya, in fact, I think they did it on purpose. He had to survive the auditions and make the top 25 or whatever it is. He's good for the show. Next year they can take on a whole new image and then they'll get to survive a few more seasons and make more millions. Written on 4/4/07

tiburonbite

Él Tiburon
Jane, regardless of my political stance or television viewing schedule, I think this was an insightful, well thought out editorial about society's influence on the mainstream media that merits consideration. That being said, what the hell are you doing posting it here? Shame on you for making me think. Written on 5/4/07

JaneCopland

Jane
Aw, I'm sorry Jerry. I guess it went on here because I have nowhere else to put it. Such a big internet and so few options for Jane. Written on 5/4/07

magic_fella

David Thiel
I took one look at that kid and slotted him neatly into the "oh my God" category. But I have to admit that I am slowly changing my mind.

It has nothing to do with his singing -- which is fine. Just fine.

It has to do with two things: the vast amount of attention focussed on him as the "joke" contestant...and the way he has conducted himself with honor and dignity under that kind of talk.

I don't care for his singing -- though his latin performance was one of the best on the show -- but I DO agree that AI is doing anything and everything to get people to watch.

Of course Hayley's gone now...

**sigh** Written on 12/4/07

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