[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Platt Holden]

Hi Arlo, Ham 

> [Arlo]
> I am with you both in being ashamed and disgusted by the "schadenfreudenische"
> and overconcern American culture has developed towards "celebrity". Witness the
> trajedy that elevates Paris Hilton to royalty, evidence that "wealth" is akin
> to "value" in this country. Platt, however, I disagree with you analysis that
> American Idol represents a victory of "biological values" over "social values".
> What it represents is a victory of "social values" over "intellectual values".

To quote Pirsig referring to the celebrity "goon out" phenomena:

"It seems to have biological roots, like hunger or fear or greed." (Lila, 20)
 
> On the production side, Americon Idol is huge business, an entertainment
> industry (like other industries) that is more concerned with generating
> "profit" than with anything else.

Many shows lose money. Anyway, what's wrong with trying to make a buck?

> On the contestent side, American Idol
> representes in brilliant example the Quest for Celebrity/Fame/Wealth that is
> the real American Dream, the only American Dream possible when "material
> profit" is the end-all of our raison-d-ete.

Unrealistic exaggeration . . . the "real American Dream, the only Dream
possible . . ."

  
> This is of course a natural consequence of the recent "damn the
> pinheaded intellectuals" campaign of the anti-intellectual, socially-focused
> conservatives. 

Ah yes, Hillary's great right-ring conspiracy. 

> Attaining "social level" greatness is the True Reason We Exist (according to
> these folks), something that is Natural and Best Goal we can ever strive for.
> Strive for Wealth, Strive for Material Profit. And so we elevate the rich and
> the famous to higher pedastals than ever before in our culture. We read more
> about Paris Hilton and Sam Walton than about history and philosophy.

Putting Paris Hilton and Sam Walton in the same boat may work rhetorically, but not
realistically.

> We are
> more concerned with who's going to be the next American Idol than with our
> local schools slashing music and arts programs (another natural result of being
> fixated on "material profit").

Since when are music and art programs intellectual concerns? Both music and art arose
long before the intellectual level gained dominance.

> No, American Idol is here because our culture is now one that values social
> level wealth, fame and celebrity as the Highest and Greatest of Human
> Achievements.

Hyperbole.

> In its campaign to reanimate Randian values, to devalue "Liberal
> Arts" and University education, to make "material profit" the Ultimate Goal of
> Human Activity, big business, American consumers and American contestents are
> all united in the natural end-prodcut called "American Idol".

Your anti-caplitalist, anti-free market, anti-American, pro-socialist bias is showing.

> To John Adams is attributed the quote, "We are soldiers and politicians today,
> so that our children may be farmers and carpenters, so that their children may
> be artists." Sadly, we are teaching are children that the greatest and best
> they should aspire to is "wealth" and "celebrity", and even "celebrity"
> attained through self-humiliation (jack-ass, e.g.) is better than anything
> else.

What we are failing to teach our children, and what Ham and I deplore, is
ddiscrimination, resulting in many thinking that Mick Jagger sings as well as Frank
Sinatra, that if you and your friends say something is good, it--ipso facto--must be
good. I recommend Ham's essay on "Discrimination." 

Platt




-------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/