Surprising? Why?
My sister sent me a link to the Susan Boyle’s “I Have a Dream” performance on Britain’s Got Talent.
I am really happy for her. It would be interesting to know the backstory because people just don’t learn to sing like that in the shower.
BUT… as I watched it, I couldn’t help being bothered, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. Not bothered with Ms. Boyle or her performance. But bothered with the whole tenor of the show and the media attention she is now getting. It wasn’t until this morning that I identified what is bothering me has everything to do with this question:
Why is Susan Boyle such a sensation?
Her performance was good, and she is very talented. But it wasn’t a perfect performance and lacked in some subtle ways (emotional range, consistent vocal quality, and flat delivery in some parts). Don’t get me wrong, I thought is was great overall, especially considering the nerves she must have been feeling and the fact is was an audition.
When you cut through everything else, however, the reason she is a sensation has everything to do with the way she looks.
I’ll bet there were more than a handful of people who auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent that were every bit as good talent-wise as Ms. Boyle. The reason they are not a sensation today is because they look “normal.” There is an unspoken assumption that a weird, less-attractive person cannot have talent.
When we see somebody who is less attractive, admits she has never been kissed, and is quirky personality-wise, we assume she is untalented. Case in point, observe the judges reaction during the performance. They were stupefied. The non-Simon male judge admitted he thought she was going to suck. He said he had never been so surprised. Why would he be surprised that a person who is trying out for Britain’s Got Talent would actually be talented? Because the judge had already decided she wouldn’t be any good based solely on what she looked like and her quirky personality.
The Savior said: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:4). Moreover, the Savior further explained the principle when He said: “[S]ee that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.” (Moroni 7:18). See also “Judge Not” and Judging.
Why should we judge a person’s worth be based solely on what the person looks like? To be fair, at least the BGT judges allowed Ms. Boyle to perform. (The cynic in me doubts the altruism, however. The producers know that the embarrassment factor draws viewers like bees to honey.)
I find this all this post performance attention incredibly condescending. She is a sensation because she is a quirky, less attractive woman (who lives with cats) that just happens to be incredibly talented. Again, the assumption being who would have ever guessed that a quirky, less attractive woman (who lives with cats) could be talented?
April 17th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I definitely see your point and it was clear that they assumed she would give everyone something to laugh about.
She was different…had to be to go on Britain’s got talent at 47, but I was impressed that she stuck with her dream. I am glad she is getting so much publicity. It definitely beats all the lame stuff that gets publicity.
It is sad that we judge so much based on appearance. It is something I think about often with photography because I can take an awesome picture, but if the subject isn’t cute it doesn’t get a second look.
It really is a sad commentary on us.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I totally agree with that take. I suspect that is human nature, however, to judge based on what we see. But isn’t the point of life (at least from a Mormon perspective) to rise above our baser instincts to be human, not animal.
It saddens me to see culture generally turning to the baser things — throwing out merit and discipline for instant gratification. Then again, I suppose this is nothing new in the history of the world.