The X Factor and Celebrity Culture

As autumn approaches and the nights begin to draw in , several million people once again sit down to watch a show which has become as much of a fixture in Britain as the seasons. Now in its eighth series, The X Factor clearly has a strong hold on the minds of the British public I must admit, however, that though I can still find it mildly entertaining to watch the large number of deluded hopefuls attempting to sing for the judges, The X Factor no longer interests me as much as it used to in the early series. The format has simply been done too many times and has become increasingly repetitive in both form and content. It often has an air of predictability about it as the eventual winner is the one that becomes the focus of the media’s attention from an early stage. The fact that the show also serves only to line the pockets of Simon Cowell also lies behind its lack of continuing appeal for me.

There is one thing, however, that troubles me most about The X Factor and is one of the main reasons why I have stopped watching it. This is the issue of the celebrity culture that it promotes. I may find myself laughing at some of the more hopeless contestants but beneath this humour I feel a genuine concern for what these people represent about British society. Their claims that they desire to be rich, famous and recognised throughout the world show how much Britain has come to idolise the celebrity lifestyle. Many people no longer desire to simply find a good job, buy a house, go travelling, make friends and start a family. They are fixated instead on the idea of being able to do something they enjoy, which requires little effort, which earns them astonishingly good money and allows them to access whatever they want in life.

I know that many people will say that I am being incredibly cynical and that the majority of the people who audition know that this dream will never come true. I should make it clear that I am far from being against the idea of dreams. Everyone has them in some form and they provide us with a vital source of ambition and pleasure. The problem with shows like The X Factor is that they give people unrealistic expectations of what to expect from life. They give young people the impression that they do not have to work hard and can be successful simply by having a lucky break. My fear is that many young people lack a realistic ambition as they are fixated on one that is likely to be unachievable for them.

I cannot help feeling that singing should not be a career but merely a hobby or a second job. Singers shouldn’t be able to become ridiculously rich but should merely take pleasure in the happiness that they bring to others. I know that they generate a lot of money for the economy by selling albums and tickets. I am also aware that this view is incredibly unrealistic in the 21^st century where the celebrity lifestyle has become ingrained in British culture and where people like Simon Cowell will always be willing to pay singers an extortionate amount but surely this money could be better spent in other ways.

I have no doubt that many more figures will this year find themselves inducted into the celebrity lifestyle through The X Factor and endowed with the prospect of fame and fortune. I hope there will be some who will emphasise that this lifestyle is just a dream and that people must work hard to succeed in life but I am not holding my breath.