That bitch, Fame

[pjthompson]

The news from London of Susan Boyle's meltdown and hospitalization has made me very sad. I was afraid of something like this ever since I realized what a simple soul she was, how very protected she'd been from the hurly burly of the world. Many of us clung to her story in elation, projecting onto her underdog beating of the odds our own needs and aspirations. Then the news media picked it up and made her the center of a frenzy. Not everyone is equipped to deal with that kind of chaos, and I suspect Ms. Boyle was much more fragile than anyone supposed.

The world loves to adore people, to build them up, to project onto, to elevate beyond any human being's ability to sustain. Almost inevitably, when the public scrutiny discovers their fatal flaw, many seem to take great glee in exploiting that, picking and picking until the person at the center of it reacts—often badly, but always in a human way. But we don't want human idols. We want them to be gods living amongst us, personifications of the myths we project upon them.

And so we tear them down again. We, us, not just the news media. The news media is just the public voice of the mob zeitgeist. They would not exist in the form they currently do if we did not watch their programs, read their web sites, buy their papers and magazines. Us. We. Me.

I hope that Ms. Boyle can find her way clear of this, that she can at least realize a part of her dream. I fear that we won't let her, but I am praying that we do.

Comments

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I hadn't heard that. I'll never understand that need to tear people down. We as a species have never evolved beyond the seventh grade, have we?

[pjthompson]

Nope. That age is about when the height of tribalism hits, so I'd say that's about how far we've come. ::sigh::

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

It's very unfortunate what happened to her.

One thing that keeps coming to mind in instances like this is how, one night on the news, I saw Dr. Drew liken these celebrity creations/trashings to human sacrifices of old. we build people up, and then completely destroy them in almost ritualistic fashion.

The theory has some credence, I think.

[pjthompson]

I definitely think that theory has some credence. It's classic scapegoating in the old school Ancient Greek sense.

[hominysnark.livejournal.com]

One of the judges--Piers?--was on GMA this morning. He talked to Miss Boyle last night, and he thinks she'll be fine. She was just exhausted and unprepared for all the media blitz and chaos. It takes a pretty thick skin to deal with all of that, and she has so obviously led a sheltered existence.

[pjthompson]

Exactly. I sure hope he's right and she'll do okay.

[darkspires.livejournal.com]

I have just read that she is being assesses under the mental health act and will be in the clinic until the end of the month. Apparently, she had been talking to an imaginary friend all week prior to the finals and had also been taking peoples cell phones to talk to her cat at length.

Where was the support when she needed it? Why wasn't she taken to a quiet country hotel to be away from all the fuss and have the proper counselling to assess her state of health prior to the event?

IMO, if they, the show producers, had isolated her from the stressful circumstances, the two minor meltdowns would not have happened and she would not have gotten the bad press that ultimately led her to losing. Up until that point, she had the backing of the people. But oh silly me. It made for a better entertainment factor, didn't it?

It also appears she might be suffering from Asperger Syndrome, a higher level autism. One of the symptoms is potty mouth under stress. This lady was from a very tiny village and was reclusive. What were people thinking? Is public crucifixion good television? Is this the sort of entertainment people crave?

Cowell now states she will not sing until she is better and he is still talking album, tour and book. Is this genuine, or is it what the people want to hear and his get out of jail free clause? I guess we will need to wait out the month to find out. If there is a shred of decency in any of them, then they should honor their commitment to this lady after manipulating her into providing huge ratings for their show. They should also make sure she is never again subjected to this level of stress if they go ahead.

I am disgusted.

[pjthompson]

I am disgusted.

You and me both. I think, as someone said up thread, we've just got through a public sacrifice and it makes me feel very, very bad all the way around. Decency was apparently left at the door.

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. I hadn't heard about this. It's horribly sad. I saw the dance troupe that won, and while they were certainly good... Well, I was surprised that Susan *didn't* win. I hope she recovers from this. Poor thing. :(

[pjthompson]

I know. I think there was a bit of a backlash against her and the whole thing makes me so sad.