Idolized: Music, Media, and Identity in American Idol

The hit television program American Idol provides a stage where the
politics of national, regional, ethnic, and religious identity are performed for
millions of viewers. Diversity is carefully highlighted and coached into a viable
commodity by judges, argues Katherine L. Meizel, with contestants packaged into
familiar portraits of American identities. Consumer choice, as expressed by audience
voting, also shapes the course of the show -- negotiating ideas of democracy and
opportunity closely associated with the American Dream. Through interviews with
audience members and participants, and careful analyses of television broadcasts,
commercial recordings, and print and online media, Meizel demonstrates that
commercial music and the music industry are not simply forces to be criticized or
resisted, but critical sites for redefining American culture.