Music news:
After a brief meeting with Sony (and an almost as brief 15 minutes of fame), pop duo sensation Jedward have been canned dropped find themselves in the unexpected (to them) fortunate position of looking for a job seeking new career opportunities.
OK, all joking apart.
Is there anyone out there who still believes that ‘talent’ shows such as The X-Factor have anything to do with ability?
I think you know that shows like this are no more than the 21st Century equivalent of Christians v Lions.
It’s bloodsport, but instead of the blood there’s lots of ritual humiliation.
The reason I’m raising this is not to show X-Factor for what it really is – I think we all know that now.
No, the reason I’m focussing on the news that Jedward have been dropped by their label (and, to be fair to Jedward, they now join a long and not very exclusive list of of ‘talent show’ winners who are all, similarly, out of work and devoid of both a label and media representation), is because this story shows up how superficial the media industry has become.
‘Famous for fifteen minutes’ – I like the quote and I love the notion behind it – but really, is it right that our media channels should assume guppy-like spans of attention?
Should we expect our national broadcaster to hop from show winner to show winner in an annual process that, behaviourally speaking, resembles the characteristic of a feeding flea?
Or do we, as the people who are paying for the continued existence of our national broadcaster – via a tax – do we deserve a more thoughtful, a more considered approach from the organisation that is, some might argue, the custodian of part of our cultural heritage?
There is, in financial circles, a strong argument against ‘dealing for today’, which is more commonly known as ‘short-termism’.
My first question is, through the unquestioning acceptance of what are obviously going to be short-lived entertainment acts relentlessly spawned from talent shows, is the BBC guilty of the entertainment variant of short-termism?
My second question is, given the colossal position of power and influence that the BBC has – and also given the potential longevity within the nation’s cultural conscience that the BBC’s output can command, should the BBC be discovering, investing in and promoting talent, rather than being the PR mouthpiece for the annual batch of famous-for-15-minute soundbites?
I’d be interested in reading your thoughts on this, no matter which side of the fence you come down on.
Broadly speaking i agree with you. i don’t think that any of these singing ‘talent’ shows have produced anyone of any merit. However as they are on ITV i don’t really see the correlation. The BBC shows are for a specific purpose (Eurovision, a theatre role etc) rather than turning someone into a ‘pop-star’. I think where the BBC really falls down is the constant barrage of ‘stories’ on their website and in their news coverage about these types of people. They are famous for a lot more than 15 minutes because they get coverage.
But do they get coverage because that’s what the collective public consciousness want? not in this house they don’t
Yeah, what LizSara said.
I’m sure this won’t be the last we’ve seen of Jedward.
I have them as my ringtone – a friend did it to annoy me and cause general embarrassment whenever it rings. It amuses her so I’ve kept it.
I for one am bored of all the ‘vote for them’ shows. Strictly Come Dancing, dancing on Ice, the X Factor, Britain’s got Talent, whatever show Andrew Lloyd Webber is casting this season, I’m a Celebrity Cover me in Camel Shit, Britain’s next top model, Dancing with the Stars, we’re inundated with them and I for one am bored. I’m bored of C list celebs in general. I don’t give a fuck if Cheryl Cole has split from her husband or who Jordan is screwing this week and I’m bored of the fact that news is now mainly about so called celebrities rather than important stuff that happens. People are now famous for nothing at all, a la Paris bloody Hilton, and when that happens, you know it’s all got out of hand.