Political communication seems to have channeled itself through an unexpected forum. Anyone who watched the 2007 Grammy awards last night knows the Dixie Chicks cleaned up, taking home 5 awards, including the coveted "Album of the Year" and "Song of the Year." The "Song of the Year" award was for their single, "Not Ready to Make Nice," the band's response to backlash from the country music industry and conservative fans for Natalie Maines's criticism of President Bush and the Iraq War. (If you missed that story, or need a reminder- in early 2003 Maines told a London concert audience that the Dixie Chicks were ashamed the President of the U.S. was from Texas, their home state as well). After their criticism, the industry forced Maines to apologize and pretty much kicked the Dixie Chicks out of the genre. Once the biggest selling country band, country radio stations started refusing to play their records and the Country Music Awards wouldn't recognize their music last November.
Upon repeated trips to the stage to accept their awards, the Dixie Chicks acknowledged that they believed their success last night was just as attributable to politics and support for their beliefs as it was to the quality of their music. "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message," said Maines.
Finally, the Dixie Chicks' message seemed to ring out as well. It's OK to disapprove of the President and to voice your opinion. To openly disagree is just as patriotic and American as it is to agree. The only problem is, that's not the credo of the Bush Administration or many conservatives who like to have strict control over "the message."
To me, it's interesting that a political debate (the war in Iraq/free speech) could end up at the center (at least in the opinion of Natalie Maines) of the Grammy Awards. I'm sure when people turned on their television sets last night to see who'd get to perform with Justin Timberlake, they weren't expecting to be receivers of political communication...but they were. It just goes to show, that as large a role as the traditional news media plays and as carefully as politicians try to craft their image, often political communication reaches people through pop culture. Actors, comedians and musicians- some of the people with the farthest reaching voices- are shaping the political debate.
What does this mean for American politics as a whole and for individual politicians trying to shape their own media image?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/11/grammy.awards/index.html
-Kim Pedersen
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9 comments:
I agree that the viewer that sat down to watch the Grammy's last night werent intending to be subjected to political communication.
Although, admittedly the Dixie Chicks arent my favorite group - their fate since the comments their lead singer expressed has been common knowledge even to a non-country fan such as myself. I find it really interesting that they were so chastized and pushed out of country music. Music is something that is supposed to express views and it should come down to quality and preference. But, the whole country music industry turned their back on them. Now that public opinion is on the side of the Dixie Chick's comments, their music is now winning prestigious awards.
I find it interesting how much their political comments effected them and when most of the country started to agree with what they had said their fan base returned.
This post just goes to show that political communication can live in almost every genre of media - even if its not expected, making it almost unavoidable.
R. Shiff
I don't think speaking out politically is appropriate for more conservative award shows like the Grammy’s. I can see it on MTV award shows because they are a lot more casual and encourage the unexpected to be said. However, using award shows to express your views does make sense. I mean award shows have almost the highest reach when it comes to viewers watching and then with the amount of articles and news coverage in the days to follow, why not voice your opinion on a particular issue. Your message will be hear loud and clear.
I think famous individuals expressing themselves through the media this way is dangerous because the heavy influence they have on the minds of Americans. I think it will happen more frequently now and not just through award shows, but with talk shows maybe now also because artists see as the Dixie Chicks showed, it won’t destroy your career and it may even gain you more publicity.
As for politicians, they kind of just have to hope that a famous individual doesn’t say anything harmful about their campaign because there is nothing they can do about it. It poses a threat to their campaigning.
I think it's ironic that the Dixie Chicks are getting such recognition for speaking out NOW. That makes me question why now? I think their recognition is halfway apologetic and half the fact that it has become more popular for people to think along the same lines of what they said in the first place. I am not a fan of country music, but I'm sure the Dixie Chicks deserved their awards. I think what they said originally crossed the line a bit. Kind of reminds me of a little incident with Kanye West. I have no problem with artists expressing their political opinions, however I think there is a difference between sharing your political opinions, and blatant disrespect.
I think that celebrities are highly overrated in this country, and that American's are going to tune into the Grammy's and listen to what Justin Timberlake has to say more than they're willing to watch CNN and listen to the State of the Union. With that in mind, I think that celebrities need to be careful of what they say, and that politicians trying to shape their image should keep in mind that they're always being watched, judged, and can use the media (and celebrities) as a tool.
I think that it's a great thing that celebrities are willing to voice their political opinion, especially if that's going to get the country more interested in politics. As long as they're willing to accept the consequences and the possibility of becoming hated (like the Dixie Chicks), celebrities should be able to speak up.
I really think that celebrities take advantage of the fact that they are in the spotlight 24/7 and therefore feel that it is ok to voice their opinion the way they do. I feel that the Dixie Chicks were inappropriate for saying what they said about our President in the first place and feeling the need to bring it up at the Grammys just is not needed. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but there are ways of saying it and places to also say it.
As part of my job, I watch the news pretty much all day at work. Today, the main stories seem to not be about the war or the elections, but everything is focused on Anna Nicoles Smith mysterious death. Yes, this is news, but is it really that important. Especially since 95% of the story has already been reported. They have no new updates and yet they continue to focus on this former celebrity, yet her case has not changed.
This sort of relates to how media is almost consumed by scandal and outrageous events. It doesn't surpirse me that the Dixie Chicks have become even more popular and in the public eye more than they already are because of the statments they make about President Bush. Bringing politics into the media is such a common entity that it doesn't really surprise with the issues that are surrounding the Dixie Chicks. The Dixie Chicks music and thier political statments have become such a blurred line and I dont think that the public should be getting angry or upset that they are winning awards.
I think agree with what was said and think that celebrities have way to much influence in the media then they should. Being in the public eye 24/7 allows them to speak their views and opinions openly and most of the time usually for a broadcast audience. And it seems as if more and more people listen them instead of making up their own minds and looking into things for themselves.
I think that they have a major influence on the younger generation, (the few that vote at least). To me it seems as if we're in a country of followers and people will take a stance on something because of the belief of a high profile person, instead of backing it for a personal reason.
-Mike Kytoski
It would be interesting to see how both the entertainment and political industries would have reacted if it was a different music group. Maybe I'm moving this off the main issue, but would have anyone paid attention if Eminem had said it? Or what if Sting made the same statements that the Dixie Chicks made? Perhaps more importantly, or more impressive was the notion that the Dixie Chicks not only stood by their statment but allowed it to influence their craft...and they were ultimately rewarded for it.
Whether or not you like their music, or agree with Bush, bottom line is there needs to be respect for opinions. Its a fact that not everyone will always agree with what others have to say, but everyone has the right and ability to voice their views. I think it's acceptable for celebrities to do the same; they are in the spotlight and have an opportunity to contribute in some way to society instead of just entertaining us.
It's a sad but apparent fact that the public spends more time watching celebrities than politicians. It seems that celebrities are starting to realize this and using their position to voice political and reach the masses. The public is often more receptive to what celebrities say than politics...but it begs the questions as to whether or not we want to receive our politically infulenced ideas through celebrities or through actual politicians...
I give the Dixie chicks alot of credit for expressing themselves at the grammys. In an industry that is so fake, its nice to see a celebrity that actually has an opinion about something as important as the leader of our country, and not just about their lastest crash diet or dress designer. Their opinions are hurting their reputation with some people so I think its brave of them to care enough to speak out.
-Suzy Filardo
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