D.D. 01/24/08
There is officially nothing to watch on TV. Mostly, I’ve been reading through some theology books and trying to gather steam to jump start something I do every year around new years – go back and try to read some of the classic literature that I missed out on for some reason.
But that’s not to say I’ve given up TV completely. I’ve been following a few shows – Law & Order, of course – and American Idol. This year’s American Idol has been surprising for me for one fact. It's anecodotal, of course, but has anyone else noticed a preponderance of social conservatism among the contests on the show so far?
Here’s just a few of the contestants that come to mind when, through yesterday’s episode which some would say exhibit a kind of conservative “innocence,” as some of the judges have termed it:
- Kristy Lee Cook, a wholesome Oregon log cabin dweller who sold her horse to get to the show
- Beth Stalker, who made an album of church hymns as a kid
- Brooke White, who has never seen an R-rated movie
- Drew Poppelreiter, a young farmer with “yes-mam” mores – and the sign of the cross at grace before meals
- Bruce Dickson, who has never kissed a girl – and won’t till his wedding day
- Amy Catherine Flynn, dance team leader at a Catholic HS who also teaches kids abstinence
Of course there is more Idol to come, so I’m sure the list will grow. The question is it just be coincidence that more socially conservative participants are among those selected to be seen on TV from among the thousands of auditions? Is the make-up simply reflective of the ideological makeup of the audition locations (two in the South – Texas and South Carolina)? More importantly, does this reflect a wider reversal among America’s youth towards traditional social responsibility? After all, statistics bear out declines in teenage drug use, abortion, as well as teenage pregnancies. If so, American Idol could be a barometer of social change among American youth.