Posted on 02/21/2007 7:45:03 AM PST by SmithL
We live in an age of self-congratulation. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the proliferation of awards shows on TV.
Where once the Academy Awards were a much-anticipated special occasion, these days one can't seem to change the channel without running into another awards show. It's to the point where the idea of a channel devoted exclusively to awards shows is conceivable. With the Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, Grammys, Teen Choice Awards and so on, we seem to be awash in accolades. As a result, awards shows have become little more than occasions for like-minded insiders to pat each other on the back and drone on endlessly about all those they want to thank.
While the commonness of awards has contributed to diminishing their status, far more damaging is the blatant politicization of the process. Filmmakers, musicians, journalists and statesmen alike are all too often awarded prizes based not on merit but on political affiliation. Invariably, that affiliation tends toward the left side of the political spectrum.
Dixie Chicks Sweep Grammys
The Dixie Chicks' sweeping of the Grammys this month was a glaring example of this trend. Their new album, Taking the Long Way Home, won all five of the Grammys for which it was nominated, including best song for the petulant anthem "Not Ready to Play Nice" -- even though sales were much lower than their earlier albums. But the Dixie Chicks' win was less about music than about politics.
Following lead singer Natalie Maine's anti-President Bush outburst during a London concert in 2003, country music fans abandoned the Texas trio in droves. Coming on the eve of the Iraq war, Maine's comment that "We're ashamed . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Manbearpig alert!
can anyone name someone, other than a liberal, who has won a Pulitzer?
Charles Krauthammer and Bill Safire. It's not absolute across the board, but close...
That's thuper, thuper cereal!
www.princeton.edu/culturalpolicy/workpap26.html
“Through analyzing airplay from a national sample of radio stations, this paper finds that contrary to prominent allegations grounded in the political economy tradition of media sociology, this backlash did not come from owners of large chains. Rather, I find that opposition to the Dixie Chicks represents grassroots conservative sentiment, which may be exacerbated by the ideological connotations of country music or tempered by tolerance for dissent. ” Spring 2003
Another nice piece by Cinnamon Stillwell. I bet some S.F. Chronicle editors are furious that this was published.
I'm Texan by birth so I must say that I'm ashamed the Dixie Hicks are from Texas.
I love Pharrell!
Thanks for posting that! :)
"I bet some S.F. Chronicle editors are furious that this was published."
Uh, yeah, that's an understatement. Check out the comments in the corresponding blog post:
http://cinnamonstillwell.blogspot.com/2007/02/when-awards-becomes-politicized.html
The usual leftist stupidity and "tolerance" for divergent thought ;-)
I read about half of it. The usual information-free, coherent argument-free liberal bile spew.
I did enjoy this admission by one of the libs:
I am the person who misspelled troglodyte.
A rare example of liberal honesty.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.