Are television shows like How do you Solve a Problem Like Maria and The X Factor dumbing down music? Trevor Herbert, Professor of Music at The Open University, discusses whether reality TV is ruining music during this short podcast.
Listen to the podcast here.
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Comments (4)
Submitted by dramaqueen on Friday 28 November 2008 - 10:15.
Why does there have to be a right and wrong to everything these days? Many people enjoy ritual humiliation of others but at least now there's an option available - you don't have to audition and you don't have to watch.
I've got tickets to Oliver because of the search for Nancy so it has been, as the podcast says, great advertising. There will always be a society of inequality because some people can sing and some (at the other end of the scale - geddit?) can't and some of those are deluded, or they are shrewd enough to realise that even the worst can get an advertising contract.
It's the modern day Elephant Man scenario. We like to chuckle at those who are more unfortunate than ourselves. I can't see it has any impact on music itself.
Submitted by bobchad100 on Thursday 04 December 2008 - 20:58.
It's not the music that's being ruined, it's the people that take part believing they are good when they aren't.
Why do family and friends tell them they are brilliant when nothing could be further from the truth?
I know the truth hurts but sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind.
That's the reality that's needed in this world!
Submitted by mickie on Saturday 13 December 2008 - 18:29.
i absolutely hate reality TV shows - can't wait for them to end. For example - the X factor seems to have taken over, which means we will be subjected to another naff christmas number 1. whoopee doo. why are people annoyed when they are told they can't sing?? i can, and wouldn't dream of going on the show.
do some people have no sense at all? you can't sing, deal with it!!
thats my rant over with, for a while, and yes, i am a redhead!!!
Submitted by Lightf00t on Monday 22 December 2008 - 16:48.
It's a difficult one to call because the likes of The X Factor finalists do have talent to a degree. I mean, noone could say that Alexandra wasn't an outstanding performer and singer. However, there's a bit more to music than simply singing other peoples' songs.
What annoys me is that truly talented artists, e.g. KT Tunstall, James Blunt, and Damien Rice, do not perform as well in chart terms due to the volume of chavs buying the latest flash-in-the-pan reality show winner's CD.
I think that reality shows in general are dumbing down society. The quality of TV schedules has taken a similar dip in quality due to these vacuous programmes.