Markets Beat Politics

Jesse Walker | April 12, 2007

Since Dave quoted Chuck Klosterman's comments on Sanjaya Malakar and American Idol, I thought I'd throw in a link to Henry Jenkins' thorough commentary on the subject. The best line is an aside:

It is telling that the winner of American Idol often sells fewer records than the also rans, suggesting that to the bitter end, the public wants to exert its ability to cancel out whatever the judges tell us to do

Comments

|4.12.07 @ 5:49PM|#

Critics HAVE to hold opinions contrary to popular opinion. If they did not, why would we need them?

|4.12.07 @ 5:49PM|#

"Since Dave quoted Chuck Klosterman's comments on Sanjaya Malakar and American Idol, I thought I'd throw in a link to Henry Jenkins' thorough commentary on the subject."

Why encourage him? American Idol!? I've never seen the show, but I have seen it advertised--usually during a football game on Fox.

...but I love talkin' cuisine, and I just discovered good Indian food a few years ago. Now I don't know what American Idol has to do with Indian food, and I have to admit I've never tried the Sanjaya Malakar, but I really like that Tikka Masala.

|4.12.07 @ 6:11PM|#

The reason the American idol runners-up sell more records and have better careers is that the prize of winning includes being locked into a management/recording contract with Simon Cowell (who owns the show.)

The losers are free to accept competitive bids from management firms and recording companies.
It's just like it says in the Bible: The first shall be last.

Goldwater Conservative|4.12.07 @ 6:14PM|#

People still buy albums? Hell, I haven't bought a CD since 1999.

Buy albums? LMAO

|4.12.07 @ 6:15PM|#

Aren't the winners chosen by the public, not the judges?

Of course, that could still prove the point that markets beat out democratic decision-making. But NoStar's comment is illuminating.

|4.12.07 @ 6:22PM|#

Aren't the winners chosen by the public, not the judges?

Yes. The winner is chosen by the viewers who can text-message the fastest and are willing to spend 2 hours every Tuesday night doing so repeatedly. (I watch it so that I'll know what my wife is talking about.)

Mr. Blather|4.12.07 @ 7:07PM|#

It is telling that the winner of American Idol often sells fewer records than the also rans,

That was also true back in the days of StarSearch. Runner up comedian Sinbad became much more famous (for better and for worse) than the man who won. I can't even remember his name. I only remember that he did a Star Trek routine involving a rabbit puppet.

Paul|4.12.07 @ 7:21PM|#

What's American Idol?

Rhywun|4.12.07 @ 8:54PM|#

Buy albums? LMAO

I buy far more albums than singles, and I usually don't regret it. Off the Billboard charts, most bands will put a little effort into all their tracks.

Aren't the winners chosen by the public, not the judges?

That's the theory. I have my doubts, especially since they never release the results.

|4.12.07 @ 9:49PM|#

Wow, Chuck Klosterman, American Idol, Arcade Fire, and Television Without Pity all referenced in one thread. It's like a horrifying compilation of things I detest.

|4.12.07 @ 10:41PM|#

You hate TWOP too? I can't fucking STAND that site. Jacob's pretentious-as-fuck recaps of Doctor Who makes me want to punch walls.
Just marvel how he can spend 30 pages writing about the gnosticism subtext of a tv show writen by an atheist.
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a11914/

stephen the goldberger|4.12.07 @ 11:38PM|#

wow, cultural snob and jonathan hohensee both appearing in one thread.

you can finish the rest.

jk love you guys

|4.13.07 @ 12:09AM|#

I had no clue I posted here enough for people to even remember me.

|4.13.07 @ 10:27AM|#

Markets beat politics? You don't say.

|4.13.07 @ 11:01AM|#

As revenge, the Geek Squad guy should destroy the mom's house with a space laser and a tub of popcorn.

Christopher Knight|4.13.07 @ 3:17PM|#

Jonathan Hohensee - nah - Dr. Hawathay got really pissed, but we blamed Lazlo - who just took off in his RV...