“American Idol” is becoming a historic culture-bending event in America. In the world, actually, since versions of the show currently run in 36 countries. Amazingly, the show grows in popularity each year, contrary to a normal TV run. It seems to me that “Idol” is part of a megatrend toward empowering ordinary people at the expense of the elite.
“American Idol” made its most spectacular statement in early February when it drew an audience nearly twice that for the Grammy Awards, which featured music’s top professionals. How did this happen?
According to Thomas de Zengotita, author of the book Mediated, people are unfolding a revolution against being treated as mere spectators (LA Times, 2/12). It’s spectators against celebrities, with spectators demanding the last scarce resource—attention. And people’s heroes today are pop music performers. They know how to make us the focus of attention.
De Zengotita compares a concert to a religious experience. When the star meets the audience’s huge expectations, each individual feels both personally understood and fused with other fans in a larger common identity. Music combined with words has the power to grab us at a deeper level than articulated meaning.
“American Idol” beats a concert, because a fan becomes the idol. And in its early stages, the show makes us part of the most popular clique, delivering snarky judgments on the country’s most embarrassing pool of losers. Both phases of "Idol" help the audience feel like winners.
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