Simon Cowell and the American Psyche

So I finally got a chance to watch a little of "American Idol" the other night. Though I only watched a little (less than an hour's worth), a few thoughts stuck out in my head. First and foremost among them was that I found that I really did not have any argument with the judgment of the group choosing those who would go on or not (Simon included). The only reason this surprised me was because of the national uproar over Simon Cowell's comments over so many auditions in the past.

And even though his comments (as I watched) were a little less biting than others which I have heard attributed him, I began to wonder about America's ability to recieve criticism. Simon Cowell may use harsher words than others when confronting someone about their lack of talent, but that doesn't mean he's completely incorrect. I'll admit, there are probably many who get rejected from the show which have huge potential as vocalists, but their potential needs to be developed and shaped. But in the context of the show, he and the other judges must choose the best. But American's do not like to be told that they can't do something.

It's the great American concept of freedom (I won't even go into the problems with that!). But many of the contestants have the attitude of, "You can't tell me that I can't sing!" When, in fact, maybe that is just what that person needs to hear. It brings to mind a story I heard of a music minister who, when taking over a choir at a church he had just joined, warned the pastor that the choir was soon going to shrink a little because he was going to wean the choir of all those who really should not be in it. In the process of this weaning, he came across a woman who had a very great desire to sing in the choir, but who had no musical talent or ability. When confronting her about this, he not only showed her how she had misunderstood her talents in this area, but also brought to her many other ways she could serve her church (specifically in the children's ministries). In the end she ended up being more happy and serving better there than in the choir.

But America doesn't want to be confronted about those things which it lacks or about those areas in which it is incompetent. Why? Because we're the great America! And as individuals, it is unkind (and stifling to our personalities!) to tell us that we are incompetent in an area, or that we are not talented in some way.

That's what makes American Idol such a phenomenon. Here are individuals willing to raise up a standard and hold to it (albeit slightly overly aggressively). They do this in the midst of a postmodern culture which promotes relative standards subjective to the individual. That creates the conflict within the show (the contestants constantly butting heads with this standard they don't think really applies to them) and outside it (America hates being told what is good and is not good, but then again loves it because that's really the way we were made, to live within boundaries and standards).