Mr. L

Today I came across a very interesting article – commentary published on May 19 in LosAngelesTimes.com, written by Ann Powers under the title: ‘American Idol’s bigger message’.
It was, obviously written before the results of the American Idol show have been announced but the points mentioned in it are still very much alive.

Ann Powers writes:

The two-part finale of hit series “American Idol,” which begins tonight, is the most talked-about thing in television right now, partly because this season’s contenders, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, are exciting performers. But it’s also because they have done something unexpected: Their unlikely friendship has presented America with a new vision of itself, beyond the deepest divisions of the culture wars.

Lambert is a rocker from the liberal urban Southland with roots in musical theater and the Hollywood club scene. Allen is a collegiate evangelical Christian from Arkansas. Lambert has been compared to Queen’s Freddie Mercury and Elvis Presley; Allen recalls John Mayer and the Jonas Brothers.

At a time when change is in the air but the old conflicts over religion, lifestyle and sexuality aren’t going away, this eighth season of “American Idol” is vividly illustrating how people with cultural differences can make beautiful music together.

And Karen Tongson, an assistant professor of English and gender studies at USC gives also her view:

The friendship between the two finalists suggests that tolerance can trump ideology, a powerful sentiment that echoes President Obama’s suggestion that bridging differences could be more effective than trying to eradicate them.

This is part of the spirit and ethos of an America after Obama. His whole rhetoric fits into the desires of our political culture after such a divisive period. And that’s also playing itself out on Idol.

Read the whole article here.

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