American Idol, the Psychology of Ownership
So You Want To Win American Idol 2010!
The American Idol phenomenon has been fascinating the world for nine years now. I'm asking myself what it is we love about the show. We love to hate Simon. We are loving Ellen, as always. We are laughing and crying with the contestants. But, what actually seduces us?
The obvious answer is the Pygmalion paradigm. We love rags to riches. We love it when the commoner marries the prince. We love the ugly caterpillar that turns into a gorgeous butterfly.
Let's go deeper. What resonates with us so deeply? Why do we love these musicians after an hour or two of knowing them? What is it about the suggestion of fame or greatness that seduces us?
Another easy answer is that it's about fame, power and money. I don't buy that answer either. I'm more inclined to believe that there is something supernatural about watching a mere human do what we think is humanly impossible. We wait to be taken to that special place. We wait for those moments that shiver our timbers.
I watch the judges struggle for the right words to simply say.... "... why are you guys missing this every time?" "....why can't you see that this is your chance of a lifetime." How can you let it fly from your grasp so easily?" The judges want these young performers to know something that is beyond their years apparently. It is that elusive something. I call it "Ownership." Joseph Campbell called it "following your bliss."
Last night the judges couldn't get over the piercing high note sung by Siobhan. Like an orgasm, it lasted only seconds, but it reached past our walls. It connected with something supernatural, superhuman. That is what we long for. We long to experience those unexpected shivers that surprise and dazzle us.
I remember the first time I heard Johnny Mathis sing that almost imperceptible high note. You hear it initially in your spirit. I don't think your ears hear that note right out of the gate. But, we know something amazing is coming.
Siobhan owned that moment. She owned the note.... And, the song for that matter. I would argue that consistent greatness in any discipline requires a level of ownership. Ownership implies what the judges are trying to communicate over and over again. Ownership takes the singer from a cabaret performance to a Pavarotti performance.
How does an artist tap into ownership? I believe there are two ways. I have experienced the transformation with patients in my own practice. Sometimes a person grows into ownership. As his confidence grows, his old beliefs are dismantled organically. The faster way, is the deliberate dismantling of old beliefs. This dismantling process opens the gates to the supernatural.
Someone needs to coach or counsel the American Idol contestants to dismantle old, debilitating beliefs.
The American Idol phenomenon has been fascinating the world for nine years now. I'm asking myself what it is we love about the show. We love to hate Simon. We are loving Ellen, as always. We are laughing and crying with the contestants. But, what actually seduces us?
The obvious answer is the Pygmalion paradigm. We love rags to riches. We love it when the commoner marries the prince. We love the ugly caterpillar that turns into a gorgeous butterfly.
Let's go deeper. What resonates with us so deeply? Why do we love these musicians after an hour or two of knowing them? What is it about the suggestion of fame or greatness that seduces us?
Another easy answer is that it's about fame, power and money. I don't buy that answer either. I'm more inclined to believe that there is something supernatural about watching a mere human do what we think is humanly impossible. We wait to be taken to that special place. We wait for those moments that shiver our timbers.
I watch the judges struggle for the right words to simply say.... "... why are you guys missing this every time?" "....why can't you see that this is your chance of a lifetime." How can you let it fly from your grasp so easily?" The judges want these young performers to know something that is beyond their years apparently. It is that elusive something. I call it "Ownership." Joseph Campbell called it "following your bliss."
Last night the judges couldn't get over the piercing high note sung by Siobhan. Like an orgasm, it lasted only seconds, but it reached past our walls. It connected with something supernatural, superhuman. That is what we long for. We long to experience those unexpected shivers that surprise and dazzle us.
I remember the first time I heard Johnny Mathis sing that almost imperceptible high note. You hear it initially in your spirit. I don't think your ears hear that note right out of the gate. But, we know something amazing is coming.
Siobhan owned that moment. She owned the note.... And, the song for that matter. I would argue that consistent greatness in any discipline requires a level of ownership. Ownership implies what the judges are trying to communicate over and over again. Ownership takes the singer from a cabaret performance to a Pavarotti performance.
How does an artist tap into ownership? I believe there are two ways. I have experienced the transformation with patients in my own practice. Sometimes a person grows into ownership. As his confidence grows, his old beliefs are dismantled organically. The faster way, is the deliberate dismantling of old beliefs. This dismantling process opens the gates to the supernatural.
Someone needs to coach or counsel the American Idol contestants to dismantle old, debilitating beliefs.
Source...