Idolized: Music, Media, and Identity in American Idol (Ethnomusicology Multimedia) [Paperback]

Katherine L. Meizel (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 16, 2011 | Series: Ethnomusicology Multimedia

The hit television program American Idol provides a stage where the politics of national, regional, ethnic, and religious identity are performed for millions of viewers. Diversity is carefully highlighted and coached into a viable commodity by judges, argues Katherine Meizel, with contestants packaged into familiar portraits of American identities. Consumer choice, as expressed by audience voting, also shapes the course of the show—negotiating ideas of democracy and opportunity closely associated with the American Dream. Through interviews with audience members and participants, and careful analyses of television broadcasts, commercial recordings, and print and online media, Meizel demonstrates that commercial music and the music industry are not simply forces to be criticized or resisted, but critical sites for redefining American culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An engaging analysis of one of the most important developments of the past decade for popular music on television." —Chris McDonald, author of Rush, Rock Music, and the Middle Class

(Chris McDonald, author of Rush, Rock Music, and the Middle Class )

"Meizel’s ambitious book is a model of clarity and seriousness in its treatment of American Idol, American identity, the American mood in the early 21st century." —Matt Stahl, University of Western Ontario

(Matt Stahl, University of Western Ontario )

About the Author

Katherine Meizel is Visiting Assistant Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (February 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253222710
• ISBN-13: 978-0253222718
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,140,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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