New Favorite Word == Oprahfication
Read an article awhile back on the "Pornography of Terry Gross". It discussed, in no uncertain terms, the masturbatory and exploitative nature of Ms. Gross' interviewing style and attitude.
In my mind, it goes hand in hand with what I've been calling the "Real World culture", that is the utterly unironic self-interested nature of todays teenagers and college students. Call it "Generation Me." Everything becomes drama for their own personal soap-operas, and if you don't get in line, you're violating their self-worth.
Its kinda the same reason why I felt wierd about Lila Limbscomb in Fahrenheit 9-11. It wasn't that her grief wasn't real and powerful, its just that something felt, well, wrong about Moore's exploitation of it and her complete willingness to give it to him.
Anyways, there's another term for it, "Oprahfication." Here's a quote from the WSJ:
"You read a lot about the Oprahfication of American culture -- the exaltation of victimhood, the no-fault moral universe, the abuse of public discourse for private therapy -- and it pays to witness the phenomenon at Ground Zero. No one in American political life has claimed that mantle of victimhood, or reaped the benefits of fake sincerity, with as much success as Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey is the national laureate of pop therapy. Sitting before a rapt audience of thirty-somethings, the former president recounted the childhood horrors of a negative body image and a drunken stepfather and the grown-up challenges of brutal Republicans and journalists who live to hurt politicians' feelings. Oprah was, at all times, duly sympathetic and handled the subject of adultery with considerable skill: Scolding her guest with affectionate concern, she drew from her audience laughter and applause simultaneously. This enabled Mr. Clinton to smile in his trademark boyish fashion and pledge that marathon counseling had made him a better man, better husband, better father, better president and better guest on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show.' Observing the spectacle, I was struck by a vision of, say, Franklin D. Roosevelt, poised in his wheelchair beside Oprah, or Dwight D. Eisenhower, sitting ramrod-straight, opening up about their difficult childhoods, the deaths of their children and their complicated marriages, eliciting warmhearted sighs from the studio audience. Then I imagined, say, George W. Bush, publishing his memoirs for $10 million, swapping friendly sentences with Katie and Charlie, comforting Dan Rather by appearing relaxed, and hypnotizing Oprah with stories of drinking, 9/11 and redemption. And then I woke up." --Philip Terzian, The Wall Street Journal
Josiah Q. Roe | By Josiah Roe | 01:14 PM
Comments
I can't think of anything particularly witty to respond with, but I am giving you a big thumbs up right now. I've been grumbling to myself about Oprah for ages now, glad to see I'm not the only one!
Posted by: Shannon at July 1, 2004 01:04 AM
My absolute favourite is the Oprahfication of the classics - now Anna Karenina is flying off the shelves because Oprah read and recommends it? Whew. I honestly wonder how many of her devotees can make it through the book, it is by no means 'light reading' - or even Oprah-feel-good fare. Although maybe it'd be better to just be glad the general population is that much closer to actually reading East of Eden . . . I'm just waiting for her to put Proust in her club.
Posted by: Jes at July 1, 2004 02:10 PM
Most memorable Terry Gross moment.
(interviewee: Gene Simmons of KISS)
at the end of the interview, Terry as Gene if his obnoxious behavior is part of his on-stage character (and he was totally obnoxious, believe me) or if was the real him.
Gene replied, something to the affect, that he this was the real him as Terry was boring and lacked a real personality.
Posted by: rob at July 1, 2004 10:19 PM
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