Can Sociology Explain American Idol's Appeal?

By Karen Sternheimer 

By now you have probably seen at least one episode of American Idol, and maybe even have a strong opinion about who this season’s winner should be. But have you ever thought about why it is so popular? 

It is certainly not the first talent show to be on television. Remember Star Search? I barely do. Not just because the show has been off the air for thirteen years, but it never generated the buzz of American Idol…a Star Search winner might be an interesting tidbit of  trivia, but Idol winners become household names almost immediately. How come?

Clearly, there are many reasons the show has been so successful. As Bradley Wright recently blogged about, the judges are a key factor. I have to admit that I prefer to watch the early auditions to hear the judges respond to the talent-challenged contestants. Simon’s snappy barbs violate my own sense of kindness and the social norm of “being nice,” yet somehow seeing that violated is entertaining (particularly since I am not on the receiving end). The auditioners reflect a central principle of comedy: a character totally committed to his or her actions while completely lacking self-awareness. And there are plenty of those. 

But beyond the bad singers, one of the key elements to Idol’s success is its interactivity. The audience can have a stake in the outcome by voting for their favorite right away by phone or text message. In our Internet age, media that don’t allow for our input and interaction seems dated. Even some national news programs encourage viewers to post comments online during the program. This challenges old complaints about television being a “passive” medium (see books like The Plug-in Drug for example). 

What’s interesting now is how books from the mid-twentieth century made interactive media seem apocalyptic. Did you ever see the 1968 film based on Arthur C. Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, when Hal the computer takes over? It still freaks me out.

2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968

Another example is the 1966 movie based on Ray Bradbury’s great sci-fi book, Fahrenheit 451, which some interpret to be about how television destroys interest in reading. In this dystopia, “firemen” burn books, and an underground society springs up where people memorize books so that the world’s great literature doesn’t disappear. The film is being remade for release in 2010, perhaps reflecting renewed concerns about our digital age (or a lack of creativity on behalf of studio execs…or both). 

Fahrenheit 451, 1966

This Fahrenheit 451 clip really resonated with me when I first saw the film in the 1980s. It seemed very Orwellian, that Big Brother would no longer allow us to watch television peacefully without demanding something from us. In contrast to the mostly utopian beliefs about computers and technology today, before we got to “the future” it seemed like it could destroy freedom and maybe even society itself. 

But this has not exactly happened, at least not to the extent portended in these two novels. In fact, we might argue that interactive media technology has significant social benefits beyond the obvious ones. 

Emile Durkheim, often called the father of sociology, might even say that interactivity and involvement with shows like American Idol promotes social cohesion. For Durkheim, problems emerge within any society when its members feel a sense of disconnection and separation. Solidarity, by contrast, promotes stability and conformity, which is often difficult for large, heterogeneous societies to create. 

Sociologists Daniel Dayan and Elihu Katz write in their book Media Events: The Live Broadcasting of History that events which generate a lot of media attention can have the impact of uniting large groups of people who otherwise might have little in common. Do you think American Idol promotes social cohesion? It may give us a sense of shared culture, and something to bond over by talking about favorite (or least favorite) contestants. 

Beyond American Idol, a thought-provoking Los Angeles Times op-ed piece suggests that Americans might even be happier about paying taxes (yes, “tax” and “happy” in the same sentence) if we could designate exactly where our money goes: 

Love national parks? Give the Department of the Interior a generous slice. Against the war? Zero out the Department of Defense.

Individual income taxes account for slightly less than half of the roughly $2.4 trillion the IRS collected last year. So the less-sexy programs (crop research, say, or U.S. Mint operations) could still be funded by Congress with other revenues. And because some taxpayers inevitably wouldn't designate any choices, there would still be a little slush fund for Congress to spend on pet projects. What about really critical things like Social Security or education? There's the beauty! Taxpayers decide what's really critical. And if we don't like what we achieve, well, we get to decide again the next year.

Would you feel better about paying taxes and our federal government if you could tell them how you wanted your money spent, much like a donation to the Red Cross? I wouldn’t try this at home unless Congress agrees, and I’m guessing they won’t. And while voting for your favorite American Idol contestant won’t necessarily make you a better citizen, do you think it promotes a sense of connection to something bigger?

Comments

[Marianne]

American Idol, as banal and brainless as it is, does aid social cohesion. People bond over the contestant(s) they like - and hate. More than other shoes, American Idol encourages - nay, demands - that viewers have opinions on everything from the best singing to the worst hair. Also, the show fosters the illusion that viewers have the power to choose the next singing star, rather than having the star chosen by some faceless music producer. That illusion makes people invested in the show and hooks viewers - viewers feel like they must fight for their favorite contestant.

About the taxes thing - again, people love power, or at least the illusion of power. However, I think if this experiment was ever carried out, a surprising number of people would decline to earmark their funds to any specific area(s). Faced with many choices, some people decline to make any choice at all. Plus people would reason that they elected representatives to take the time to allocate funds to the appropriate areas.

[Laura S]

Though interactive media may be more appealing to viewers who believe they affect the outcome of the program, it is not actually benefiting their socialization. Viewers feel they have power, but every hour they spend on the couch only increases the time they spend in isolation. Without direct human contact, socialization does not rightly exist. None of the contestants on American Idol are going to pop out of the screen, give a nice handshake, and share life experiences over a cup of tea. No matter how interactive the media gets, without direct conversation and socialization, television remains an isolating activity.

[Angel]

I think that through the internet sociology can not explain why American Idol is so popular and famous, the reason being is that no million plus people are going to interact with each other before they vote for their finalists. As where either there are very slight chances every person in the United States who voted is going to get a chance and watch an American Idol live. So I do not think sociology can appeal for American Idol being so popular maybe the web but not the people.

[Juanita Owens]

1.) Sociology can explain the appeal of American Idol by looking at it with a sociological imagination. People will be voted in because of how they appeal to the general public. If their is already a pop star that is five foot seven with blond hair and blue eyes that is over exposed in the media, then it is highly unlikely that an Idol contestant with the same profile will win. It does have it's functions as a conversation topic for strangers to bond.

2.) American Idol promotes social cohesion because it serves as a conversation topic for strangers to bond. I can think of very few people who don't watch American Idol therefore, when complete strangers meet and would prefer to stray away from the idle chat about weather, Idol is always a "safe" topic.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000259315178]

Structual functionalism is displayed on American Idol throught the fact that America as a whole gets to play a paart in who becomes the next American Idol. This show is symbolic, because it shows how an American Idol should be portrayed as a singer. It takes the way a person looks in act into consideration, because this person will be representing American Idol so they have a certain standard they are held at. At a conflict theory point of veiw American Idol is jsut a source of entertainment. Exposure for a singer to grasp the attention of fans. Its just a ways to put a certain group of people int he spot light.

With Americans being able to vote and interact with each other, chat and talk about American Idol then I would definitely have to say that it promotes social cohesion.

[Dustin C Patterson]

The reason that american idol is so popular is because people really feel like they have a chance to influence the outcome of the show. Also the show give people who normally don't speak something to talk about

[bhiser8929]

This article was difficult for me to read,I do not watch American Idol or evenmuch television. I do feel asthough interactive media is a growing part of society and this certainly could appeal to people. The fact that people can interact they feel their input is important,but I'm not sure fans opinions really count.

[J. Rodriguez]

The appeal behind Idol is the fact that the viewers feel they are in control of the show itself. Interactive media is something new and great and it just keeps growing as we move forward into the new decade. It's like the author writes, we love to watch for the good singers and even more so for the bad ones. That way most of the population (or it feels that way with American Idol's popularity)has something they can talk about around the water cooler the next day at work.

[khameed]

oh me oh my the money we supply. Do we need to invest in entertainment? Do we think of all the money we give away for our kids education just for asuument, sport, or play? Use to be we sit back and scream at the t.v. when we want it to listen but now we waste so much money wanting to determine who is the best singer when truely everyone has a favorite. Idol is a waste of money.

[Matt Ritten]

In today's world with up to the minute news from the Internet and television, people feel like the media runs this country. American Idol gives a feeling that we help out with someone.

[dthomas6104]

The global village ....interactive talent reality show

Its the american dream its third season, the network profited more than $260,000,000 who would not want a little of Hollywood in a town near you.. its more then a fad its popular culture clame to prime time a institution if you will. with the fourth season totaling approximately 500 million votes yea i feel its has it hand in appeal.

[Jaleesa W.]

American Idol allows for social cohesion by involvement and interactivity. It merges all cultures where we would otherwise have nothing in common. It allows us to disagree, but we still have a common ground about liking the show overall.

[cholt3011]

I don't watch American Idol, but in my opinion it lets the audience have control of the show after the judges make their decisions on the contestants. Yes, it does merge all the cultures together, but can we not find something else to come together about?

[bmabry3509]

American Idol I watched a couple of shows I do not really care to watch the show. I thought it was pretty neat how you get to interact and vote for a singer who you like to be the next winner. The first couple of seasons thats all I would hear at work it is not so much anymore.

[Abell4570]

I think that American Idol promotes social cohesion by having people to, first off, watch the show by making it interesting and appealing to all sorts of people. Also, they entertain people by making fun of people and it seems to me that everyone can laugh at the expense of another. Not many people want to laugh at their own expense; not to say that none do though.
The viewers have to call in or text in their vote. The people who collect the votes tally them up and come up with the majority winner. That shows the cohesion because it shows how people can be brought together by a television show and determine the outcome of an election. People often tell their peers and friends to vote for a specific candidate.

[K. Stovall]

American Idol's appeal could be explained with structural functionalism in that the contributions of the seperate parts of society affect the unified whole, or this case, the outcome of the show. The conflict theory could be used to explain its appeal in that the show is a competition and competition appeals to society. In conflict theory, conflict and competition are basic facts of social life. The fact that people can vote and ultimately determine the winner also gives people a sense of power, which is also appealing. For symbolic interactionism, the way we are interacting with the show can change or modify the outcome.

American Idol promotes social cohesion because of the way it allows people to interact with the show and with each other. It bands groups of people together by appealing to many different kinds of people.

[J Turley]

I believe American Idol has the appeal it has becasue of the interactivity mainly, but also because of the judges. When a contestant gets finished performing, everyone is waiting to see what Simon has to say! It is usually cruel, but it is good entertainment.

[Kimberly King]

I believe that people are so drawn to the TV show. Because the TV shows the people from day one sitting out in the parking lot. Sometimes for days. They have this glow in their eyes and from day one they suck you in. You feel if it is you out there. You journey threw the course of the show with them sitting on the edge of your seats. You laugh with them, get excited and even pray for them. You might be even texting for your're favorite. This is basically how all good drama's draw you in. Ask yourself this does it benefit you directly, have you learn anything for that hour you gave up to the couch? That's entertainment.

[Npatty1291]

The reason why american idol is so much more popular is because americans have developed a taste for reality television. We enjoy watching people make fools out of themselves and then get talked down to as if they were inferior to us.

[Ethan Turner]

Today American's are far more intrigued by whats on television each week, than what is really important. I don't think that this is really a bad thing though. Television has always been an escape from what is really going on, so I think that is only natural that American Idol is such a huge success in this country. I like that we, as a country have shows like that, that take us away from what we have to deal with each day, whatever that may be. Many people around the world do not have the comfort of having an escape from reality like television brings so many Americans.

[N pullum]

people are so drawn to american idol because it is a very entertaining show and it has given people a way that probably never would have had a chance

[Joshua wade]

people like to see other people fail and succeed, we get a thrill out of it as a whole. i do agree that the interactiveness of the show makes it as popular as it is.

[A. Santillan]

I do think that American Idol brings people together. Other then everyone talking about who they dislike and like. You have a voice and there is no age you have to be and you dont have to be a citizen. Everyone is treated the same and everyone has a voice. You dont have to give out any information. You just vote and you know your vote will be counted and it goes where you want it to go unlike taxes. The show also brings all kind of ethnic groups together and shows what people have to offer as far as a voice. ;)

[Sarah Connell]

When my friends talk about a show and I don't know about it I do feel "out of the loop" unless it is something I don't really care to watch. American Idol does let you feel like you are a part of the process because you are. You root for your favorite singer the whole time and pull for them. Taking time out of your day to vote for them. Why do we care so much? I watch tv shows that I wouldn't watch other wise if I wasn't bored.I wish I could be like my dad in a way, he doesn't care about any of that stuff. I care about them,yet I know they are stupid and I don't want to care. American Idol isn't one of those shows for me though. It does bound America so to say if you get into it,just like rooting for your favorite football team it is fun to just get involved. I don't know when it will lose it appeal. Some seasons are better then others.Having a say in tv is happening alot more through voting, calling in or tweeting.

[Ebony J]

American Idol is a great show that i think does aid social cohension people are fascinated with the fact that they have a affect on the outcome or who is going to win on the show.