So, right now I’m sitting here, finishing some homework and half watching American Idol. As I was watching, I was thinking about the messages the show is sending out while we’re all being entertained by the massive failure of strangers. I know a lot has been made this week about the show being too cruel this season. I’m a little confused by this because I don’t see this season as different than any other. I’m really curious about why people are concerned all of the sudden. Personally, I’m more concerned about the message of these early audition shows, the more I actually think about the message they are sending. I spend three days a week in classroom delviering programs on bullying. All day long I tell kids to be kind to one another, not to capitalize on a position of power and abuse people who are weker than them. We are funded to go into classrooms and teach kids not to be cruel to people who are vulnerable. Now I’m sitting here wondering, how do I compete with American Idol? Is Simon Cowell not the best image of a bully you have ever seen? He is clearly in a position of authority, he is not in the least bit vulnerable to the contestants on the show. From his powerful position, he does not choose to be mature and diplomatic, but rather, to be cruel. So, as a society that teaches our kids that bullying is a tragedy and will not be tolerated, do we react to this message by condemming it? Of course not, we celebrate this thinly veiled bully as a cultural icon. In fact there are many examples in the media where manipulation, pushiness and getting what you want at any cost are more than tolerated, they are celebrated. Hell, I’m confused! How can we expect our children to navigate the mixed messages we send them?
dream8 said,
January 24, 2007 at 6:13 am
I completely agree with what you are saying. It is a sad and incredibly confusing message we are sending out to children. If you and I are confused with these messages, as adults, imagine the poor children. I feel it is incredibly sad to find that the only way that things like american idol can be on the air is because of this rude behavior that Simon shows, and kids see this too. They aren’t dumb, they know why that show is on the air, and they tie that behavior with success, and who doesn’t want to be successful. Great blog!!
Matt said,
January 25, 2007 at 12:05 am
I don’t necessarily agree with your take on the show. Yes Simon is pretty cruel at times, but he’s not sending out a message to kids. Trying to read to much into a show like this is somewhat foolish. People willing enter into these auditions knowing full well that they are most likely going to be turned away.
I don’t know about you, but if I sucked at singing as much as some of the people who audition, well I’d like to be told.
Simon is there to put what America wants onto a stage. It’s proven that he is very successful at what he does. It’s not bullying. If you’re telling me that you could listen to thousands upon thousands of people sing and not get a little agitated then I commend you. What you see on the show is merely a small portion of what goes on. People often pick fights with Simon.
The people that Simon criticizes quite harshly are usually the ones that are cocky and arrogant people to start with. He is not bullying, he is a judge. Criticism is to be expected.
To be a bully the bully has to go out and find people to bully. Simon is not seeking out people to bully, they are coming to him to be judged. If you don’t want to be criticized then don’t audition.
People don’t tune in to the show to watch a bully, they tune into see how some awful singers actually believe they are good. Simon’s comments are probably the same ones millions of people are thinking too. He’s just in a position to tell them what the rest of the planet is already thinking.
kate said,
January 29, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I understand that simon can be well a little cruel…but the reality is thats life. This show is based around competition. There has to be a standard to adhere to. I remember falling to make the qualifier the first time for alberta team and it sucked, but hey, they were right I wasn’t old enough and didn’t have the skill yet to be competing at that level. Its like that in every sport (and arts)and it just simply has to be.
gumballs said,
January 31, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I could not agree with you more. I think its great that you go into classrooms and talk to kids about bullying. Thats a hard thing to talk about especially with kids, because they all do it, and they all gain credibility with the other students for doing so. Its rediculus. Its so hard to try to prevent the bigger stuff from happening when people are getting entertainment out of it. We are totally sending our kids mixed messages. Im just wondering if you have ever used a clip from american Idol as an example of bullying in your presentations?? I think that would help them to look at the media a little more critically, which might make your job a little easier. I know that a huge part of my job as and addiction counselor is to go talk to kids about drugs and alcohol, also something glorified by the media, and its so hard competing. Its quite the battle; One I fear that we are losing some days. Good post, I really enjoyed reading it.
Cindy said,
February 7, 2007 at 8:16 am
Awesome post. Loved the fact that you blogged and bullies and american idol. I’ve just been recently examining the topic of bullying within schools as well and find it incredibly problematic that we do celebrate certain bully chractersitics all over national TV. Where do we draw the line between entertainment and plain stupidity? We can also look at this from another point I suppose, Simon is mainly looked at as a J.A. (thanks paul) so from this wont most people strive to be unlike him because he creates so much pain?? or perhaps am i being to optimistic and will they take his antics and apply them for their own humor and pleasue??
Who knows, TV can be a wonderful thing but also a negative thing.