American Dream as the Base for the Success of American Idol

American Idol is a very popular TV program not only in America, but also in the
world. It is proven by the fact that the show still runs annually and next year it will enter
its ninth season. This show is watched by 30 millions people annually. It becomes the
number one TV show in America. It has ever ranked at number one for consecutive five
times in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 based on Nielsen Ratings
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol). Many Americans are willing to join the
audition to pursue their dreams. Yes, pursuing dream is the factor of why people join
the audition. From this phenomenon, we can observe that the myth of American Dream
is preserved and even, strengthened. In this paper, I will try to analyze how the myth of
American Dream plays a big role to the success of American Idol TV program.
America is the land of the dream. Hence, many people decided and even still
decides moving to America to fulfill their dream. If we date back to the history of
immigrations to U.S., the myth of American Dream was already there, hundreds of
years ago. The first immigrants coming to America in 1620 dreamt to practice their
religions freely and we know them as the Puritans. Ever since, immigration to America
was based on the dream of a better life. They came to seek freedom, success,
opportunities, equality, justice, and safety (Bleckmann, Dominik). Yes, it is a very
broad definition of American Dream but in fact, it says so. American Dream then
becomes a prevailing myth in U.S. society transcending times and space. It becomes the
base for American people to better their live. Fisher (1973) argued that American dram
is a myth consisting of myth of brotherhood and myth of materialistic (Winn, J. Emmet:
308 - 309). Myth of brotherhood is about equality, justice, opportunities, and safety for
all. While myth of materialistic is built upon the tradition of Puritan ethics i.e. hard-
working, self-reliance, achievement, and success. These myths become the base in U.S.
society and still influence people’s behavior. These myths also become the base for the
making of U.S. television hit, American Idol.
American Idol is a TV program created by Simon Fuller and produced by
Fremantle Media. It has been aired for eight season starting from 2002 on Fox.
American Idol is TV program searching for the new generations of American singers.
The program is divided in three stages: audition, workshop, and finale. In the first stage,
audition, the judges – Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi
– searched for the new talents from all across the nation. In the second stage, workshop,
the 24 selected finalists must perform in front of television to gather votes. Their faiths
are on the viewer’s hands not on the judge’s as the first stage. From the second stage, 12

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selected people enter the finale stage in which they have to perform in front of more
audiences and bigger stage. The profiles of some contestants are exposed. In the end,
only two contestants at the Grand Finale and only one who become the American Idol.
American Idol then becomes the easiest way for ones to realize their dream. It is like
strengthening the Cinderella myth – today you are servant, the next day, you become a
princess – which is also based on dream. The winner of American Idol signs record
contract with notable records. Many of its alumni become the new superstar having a
much more better life after joining Idol. Hence, it becomes the major attraction for
American people because American Idol can be the easiest way for them to pursue their
American Dream.
The first winning American Idol was a girl, Kelly Clarkson. Countless African
Americans were able to be on the finale stage, with three of them winning– Ruben
Studdrad, Fantasia Barrino, and Jordin Spark. A country girl, Carrie Underwood, could
become a superstar after winning American Idol. And lately, an openly gay man, Adam
Lambert became the runner up for the latest season. Many other contestants also became
successful in entertainment industry. What does it signify? It signifies that American
Idol preserves the myth of brotherhood. When we talk about myth of brotherhood, we
deal with such matter as equality, justice, and opportunity regardless race and gender. It
is a utopia land of America and American Idol provides it. It is the land that American
always wants. American Idol is the representative of people’s desire about how America
should be. In the American Idol, we can see that contestants running in the last stage
almost represent all ethnics in U.S. Not only whites, minority ethnics such as Blacks,
Latinos, Asian, Indian, and even gay could become the contestants of American Idol. It
strengthens the myth of brotherhood and disposes ethnic stereotype that becomes the
major obstacle to achieve mutual understanding. More and more people will queue in
every American Idol’s audition because their mindsets are changed. They are not afraid
for being Black, Latino, woman or gay because there have been many idols from mixed
backgrounds. American Idol as if conveys, “here it is the land of dream that you always
look for, where you will be credited for your skills not from your backgrounds”.
American Idol can be so successful because it appeals not only to American’s mind but
also to heart. Americans always long for equality, justice, freedom, and opportunities
for all people. Therefore, American Idol becomes an instant hit because its very base
format is always there, in every mind and heart of American people i.e. the land (or as
the place) of freedom, equality, opportunity, justice and safety for all.

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 Myth of materialistic is the second key terms in American Dream. It is also
preserved in the American Idol. Myth of materialistic comes from the Puritan ethic,
hard working, success, self-reliance, and achievement. From the show, we can observe
many Americans struggle to achieve the success to become a superstar in the music
industry or becoming the new celebrity. These Idols were unknown people. Within
days, they become the nation’s newest stars. Mostly, all contestants come from plain
people whose jobs are categorized as middle-low class job. Once they become the
contestants, they have to rely on their self on the stage. Their performances determine
their dreams. They have to sing as best as they can to please audience. They cannot and
must not rely on others to achieve their goals. In doing so, they believe that they will
better their live even though only end up as the top 10 contestants. Even, a looser could
be so successful. This guy’s name is William Hung. In his audition Simon Cowell said
"You can't sing, you can't dance, so what do you want me to say?"
(http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/William_hung). After his audition was broadcasted, Hung
was offered roles in films and he appeared on some famous TV shows such as The Late
Show with David Litterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, etc.
Those all stories of fame, achievement, and success are based on one line, that is in
working hard to pursue your dreams. By working hard, you will get the best that you
expect. These Idols become the symbol from nothing to something. In the case of
William Hung, it shows that failure does not prevent you from success. Success and
achievement, goals for American Dream are offered in American Idol. They are
embodied in the former contestants that become superstar, celebrity, a status that
signifies a fulfilled American Dream.
American Idol is an artifact of U.S. culture early in the 21st century. From this,
we can observe beliefs, values, and myths existing in the society. American Idol owes
much to the myth of American Dream for its success. American Dream provides
American Idol a prior success before the show was run. It has been in people’s minds
and hearts for hundreds of years. That is why American Idol becomes very successful
because the format appeals directly to long existing myth in society. It does not try to
propose a new TV format. It only reproduces the existing formula i.e. fulfilling
American Dream. This formula also bases the flourishing Idol-like TV shows such as
American Next Top Model, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent, and
many others. With all of TV shows airing the same concept as American Idol, the myth
American Dream is once again prevailed and strengthened even more.

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Reference:
American Idol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol Accessed on November 26,
2004 at 17.11

Bleckmann, Dominik. (N.d). American Dream: Myth or Reality?. Retrieved from

Meizel, Katherine. (2009) 'Making the Dream a Reality (Show): The Celebration of
Failure in American Idol', Popular Music and Society, 32: 4, 475 — 488 Retrieved from
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03007760802217725 on November 21, 2009 at 10.40

William Hung: http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/William_hung Accessed on November 29,

Winn, J. Emmet. (2003). Every Dream Has Its Price: Personal Failure and the
American Dream in Wall Street and the Firm. Southern Communication Journal, 68:4,
308 - 309 Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10417940309373269 on November
24, 2009 at 08.48