Sticking To The Positive
A couple of weeks ago I did an iReport video about how I felt about the whole Susan Boyle phenomenon. In a nutshell, I was poo-pooing on her parade and ranting on about how I am sometimes sick of how obsessed people are about the underdog story. In defense of the video, I could have articulated my thoughts better – but honestly, I don’t feel any differently – I still don’t get it. Maybe I am missing an emotional chip here.
Over 17,000 people watched that iReport video. And most of them now hate me. Boy did I ever underestimate the power of the “underdog.” Here is a sample of some of the comments and emails that I received from viewers:
- Your bias and your not smart enough to realize it. You spend more effort and time on weight loss and thinking about it then many people in the US. Maybe YOU need to stop judging others.
- Giyen, you are an idiot.
- Giyen I regret you felt the need to share your opinion for the blase are a dime a dozen. I really don’t like the way you look, not your Asian features but the expression you have about you. You really do believe your own hype and that’s a classic sign of an egotist.
- WHY do you want to rob this talented woman of her moment in the sun??? Jealous, much?
That was just a sample. Apparently, people love some Susan Boyle. I think it’s all hyperbole.
In my mind, the Susan Boyle story is a classic “swan” story:
- Act One: Woman enters scene with everything going against her – looks, age, whatever. Crowd boos and judges scoff.
- Act Two: Woman overcomes, dazzles people with her singing ability. Melts even the toughest of hearts.
- Act Three: Woman is now Cinderella and millions adore her.
This is fine. I am okay with this and good for her. She showed some guts and has a lovely voice. But sadly, it doesn’t change the fact that this is a huge story because of her looks, not in spite of her looks. The last couple of weeks of media hype only makes me feel more justified about the spectacle: “Susan Boyle, new make over! New Clothes! Shaped eyebrows!”
However, here is the lesson that I learned in this whole ordeal: DON’T MESS WITH SOMETHING THAT IS INHERENTLY POSITIVE. If it makes people feel happy and positive and puts a smile on people’s faces (no matter how deluded that I think that is) what’s the harm in that? We could all use a little something that makes us smile these days.
Tags: ireport, susan boyle
This entry was posted on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 6:41 am and is filed under Daily. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
25 Responses to “Sticking To The Positive”
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“If it makes people feel happy and positive and puts a smile on people’s faces (no matter how deluded that I think that is) what’s the harm in that?”
What bothers me is that all you did was point out the truth: “this is a huge story because of her looks, not in spite of her looks.” People are acting like she’s a two-headed cow or something–”What, you mean people who are not conventionally attractive can have TALENT? Who knew!” And that says something really, really rotten about the way Western culture thinks about beauty, and beauty and women in particular. I’m sorry if it harshes someone’s buzz to have to think about that, but the truth is that they need to grow the fuck up. They’re not mad at you because they honestly think you’re jealous, shallow, or whatever: they’re mad because you pointed out the seamy underbelly of this “success story,” and now they have to THINK. And QUESTION. And maybe, just maybe, re-examine their own assumptions.
It’s easier to just say you’re a shallow jealous beeyotch and call it a day–but just cuz it’s easier doesn’t make it true. This isn’t inherently positive: it’s a whole punch of suck with a thin veneer of awesome. It’s not wrong to say that. Even if it does give a bunch of immature wankers a case of the racist grumples.
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Giyen, I actually agree with you on this one — when my father first sent me the link, with the subject line “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” I found it rather depressing. I couldn’t actually watch the whole thing. She has a lovely voice, no doubt, but the fact that someone who looks like her has that voice is not “amazing.” The amazing part is that ANYONE has that voice. Period.
The dumbfounded surprise of the audience was far too much for me to handle. There was an element of it that was similar to what the audience reaction might have been if she walked out with two heads.
Take heart, friend. Don’t let the crazies get you down.
K.
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I’ve been feeling the same way about all the Susan Boyle hype. I mean, it’s awesome that her talents are finally being recognized, but I’m shocked by all the hype and increase in news/blog posts about her – specifically b/c they seem to all be saying “Hey, look, traditionally non-good looking people have talents too!” Which makes me want to say, “Really? Time for people to examine their notions of beauty, talent and success.”
Thanks for your post. And ya, don’t let the negative comments get to you. That you’re creating a forum for such intense feedback shows that you’re challenging people in the way they think.
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I admit. I watched the YouTube vid. It put a smile on my face. Perhaps I even laughed. And, I’ll unashamedly admit, I’m happy for her. Truly happy. I think it’ll totally suck when this whole thing dies out and she’s left with a those-were-the-days type story, but heck! One almost-famous-even-though-I-was-awkward story is better than none.
But do I understand the hype? Not a bit.
Was I dumbfounded when her fame made it to day 3? 4? 5? You bet.
My eye-rolling kicked in when “never been kissed” was breaking news.
Oh, I totally agree with you Jen. I was actually kind of put off by the whole Susan Boyle thing, not because I think Susan Boyle’s talent doesn’t warrant all this praise and admiration, but because the message I got from everyone’s reaction was SEE, UGLY PEOPLE ARE TALENTED TOO. As if they just can’t believe someone they think is ugly can also have talent. If she’s pretty and talented, that wouldn’t pay so much extra attention to her looks, but UGLY AND TALENTED? Once in a blue moon spectacle everyone must get in on. Like Giyen pointed out, the underdog status comes from Susan’s looks, from the fact that everyone just could not believe ugly goes with talent. And by focusing so much on Boyle’s underdog story, they necessarily have to focus on her “ugliness,” which unfortunately has the effect of making talent and ugliness look like something EXTRA noteworthy and special. And that just highlights our prejudices based on appearances rather than deconstructing them.
I hear ya. don’t worry, you’re not alone.
I agree with the above. That was the first thing I thought too after watching the video. I have a congenital disfigurement on my face and have been getting over-enthusiatic false compliments all my life. People don’t realize that it’s coming off like they are sticking their feet in their mouth further and further.
First off, I have to pick on the writer of this comment:
Your bias and your not smart enough to realize it. You spend more effort and time on weight loss and thinking about it then many people in the US. Maybe YOU need to stop judging others.
I absolutely love it when people try to insult someone’s intelligence while using bad grammar. I believe s/he meant “you’re.”
On the subject of your post, I have to admit — you have the intestinal fortitude to say what I’m too mousy to admit. You’re absolutely right that this whole story is sad in that it perpetuates the idea that one must be beautiful in order to succeed in life. It perpetuates the idea that looks are everything, and it doesn’t surprise me that the media has latched onto this story. The media continually perpetuates the hype that we can’t gray, wrinkle, gain weight, or deviate from the accepted standards of beauty. It’s such a drag.
Here’s the thing about Susan Boyle…she’s got a gorgeous voice. I was kind of awe-struck by her performance. But honestly? I would have been awe-struck by ANYONE with that voice. I work in theatre and her voice is as good (if not better) than some professionals I’ve worked with. I think someone already hit the nail on the head, though (like, uh, YOU!): It’s only news because she’s not a beauty queen. Had she come out looking glamorous or if she’d had a pretty face to match that voice, no one would have been surprised when that voice came out of that body. It’s unfair that only pretty people are expected to do well.
The unfortunate part of all this is that once the hype dies down, no one will remember who Susan Boyle is.
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Honestly, I don’t think the situation is positive at all. It perpetuates this ideal that it’s OKAY to judge people completely by looks and most of the media talks to her like she’s a complete simpleton (when she doesn’t really come off that way if you hear her speak).
This may make ME a horrible person, but I don’t even think her voice is that great, but then I didn’t find her so ferociously unattractive either. The whole situation drives me crazy… now with attention-seeking Simon Cowell “speaking out” against her new look. He didn’t say it, but I wonder if he’s thinking her appeal is in her shock value/novelty.
The whole situation is just very sad to me.
I agree completely with you when you say it’s a story because of her looks, not in spite of her looks. That’s exactly what it is. I feel like all of the hype is a huge celebration of our shallowness, and then an effort to congratulate ourselves when we sat still long enough to hear the woman sing.
I joke a little bit about it, albeit less clearly than you, here: http://catherinethegreatest.blogspot.com/2009/04/is-simon-cowells-soul-more-tender-than.html
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Gonna go against the grain a bit on all the comments thus far. Although I totally understand what Giyen and the rest of you are pointing out, I see it quite differently.
The fact that the story is due to her looks … well … isn’t that the point? In our society where beauty reigns and good looks make more news no matter how ABSOULUTELY RIDICULOUS it is — I mean sheez … what about the overdose of news surrounding Brittney Spears or Paris Hilton — who’s jail exploits coverage blow Susan Boyle’s news out of the water. Or how about the fact that there are COUNTLESS children exploited and missing and abused, yet it seems as though it’s the cute and adorable looking ones that make headlines and tug at people’s hearts.
The point is … it’s ALWAYS been about looks … but it’s always been towards the tides of those who look better than the average Joe and Jane.
And YES, it’s sad to see that society is realizing “ugly” people have talent too. But isn’t it about time that they recognized that??? For someone like Simon, or any of those judges and audience, to see beyond someone’s physical appearance does say a lot and it’s about time that the rest of society did too. That … hmmmm…. here’s a thought … that beauty of all forms exists beneath the skin. And if it takes people to realize that through a frumpy looking gal, BRAVO, I say!
PLUS — it goes so much deeper than that. Of course there are others more talented than Susan (as Giyen pointed out) … but this was Susan’s time to shine and she happened to have the opportunity she did. But it’s more who Susan REPRESENTS rather than who she is. Having someone like her in the spotlight may open the door for a child who struggles with her/his looks and provides an opportunity to dream — that their talent or other inner beauty has a chance to shine and be recognized in our extrememly superficial and shallow world.
I’m tired of all the Hiltons, Spears, or Hollywood shallow crap. So for me, this was a welcomed change of focus.
I was wowed by her performance and YES, most of it came from her dowdy appearance and how she was mocked before she opened her mouth to sing. That said I am more than happy to see her have her day in the spot light. Kind of proves we all deserve to shine at some point in our lives for whoever we are!
I liked your iReport video. I also agree completely. Well said. Speaking of singing on viral videos, what about a post-apocalyptic bacon-related one that you may enjoy? BFF / BACON on YouTube
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The day her video exploded on YouTube, I read no less than three or four blog posts extrapolating how amazing her voice was and how incredibly talented she was. Not being one to hop on any bandwagon, quiet rebel that I am, I waited, figured it’d die down and go away (much like I hope the swine flu thing is going to go away), but it didn’t. So I finally went and watched her video when someone at work told me about it.
I expected the next Sarah Brightman. Not in looks, but in talent. I never watch singers when they sing, usually (to me) vocalist’s facial expressions distract from the music.
All that being said, I believe that Susan Boyle is talented, but definitely over-hyped. And I also agree with your last paragraph — we shouldn’t mess with other people’s Happy Spot.
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Yep, it’s the old “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” syndrome. Just because you were right on with your opinions doesn’t matter to some.
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I actually tweeted about this a few weeks ago:
Mamacitacity this whole britain’s got talent thing pisses me off because it just shows how shallow we are. omg a heavy person can sing? #susanboyle8:06 PM Apr 19th from web
I got a lot of nasty replies! I totally agree with you, it just shows how unbelievably shallow our culture is. Since when did being without aesthetic beauty rob you of talent, or for that matter, since when does beauty warrant talent? There are plenty of beautiful people who cannot sing..so why should it be a shocker that someone who is not conventionally beautiful can sing. Has anyone ever seen a picture of Pavarotti? Or Marilyn Horn?
I am with you– I don’t get it. I get that she has a great voice and is an underdog (because of her looks) but beyond watching the youtube video what is so great about it? Why are people obsessed? Still… stumped.
OMG! Thank you! I thought I was the only one!
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When I saw her on the news my first comment was “wow, these people are surprised that unattractive people can sing?” I wasn’t annoyed so much by her or her underdog appeal as I was (am) by those who believe you have to be a hot young woman to sing. Ironically, most of those women actually cannot sing, and have had their voices auto tuned.
I agree with the commenter who said that audience acted like she had two heads.
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Did anyone find it suspicious that her voice was a ‘surprise’ to everyone on the show? These people are vetted before they are placed on the show… the producers new exactly what they had. She may have a beautiful voice, but the hype feels very contrived to me.
I have a lot to say about American Idol itself and how people are treated there in general, but I don’t have time to go into this. Hey, I don’t even have time to watch TV anymore.
I did watch the Susan youtube. I cried.
I love your photo in this post. Hip hip hurray to the lesson learned! I need to work on my atitude too.
But most, I happy for Susan. Yes, she had her moment.
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You’re right, though. When she said she wanted to be famous, the audience booed her. But as soon as she started singing, they were cheering. Why is that? They automatically thought that because she wasn’t beautiful, she couldn’t be famous, or talented? And then, the next day when she was all over the news, the next question was, “Will she change her looks?” What does that say about us as a society? We like you, but we’d like you better if you were easier to look at? She’s lovely, but let’s see what they do to her.