I’m trying to tease out one of Wenger’s many thoughts. In an attempt to decipher his cryptic code, I wondered if I could apply his thinking to a pop culture trend. Surgeon General’s Warning: I may be going too far, so proceed only at your own risk…Wenger discusses imagination and its role in creating community, not necessarily a community of practice, but rather a sense of community. If Wenger read this post, he might agree that my thoughts are a stretch just as applying his notion of imagination in creating communities of practice is, but I am going to try it anyway. Wenger says that when watching a television show, we can imagine that there are numerous other viewers who are watching. Consequently we start to feel a sense of belonging. I wonder what Wenger would say to certain reality television shows and their impact on our imaginations. In particular, I am considering American Idol (AI). When you watch AI, you see the audience members. By physically seeing some of the fellow viewers (including stars sometimes), does that impact our imagination and consequently our sense of belonging? After all, it provides a visual image of those who tune in each week to watch the show. Moreover, each week the show also declares the number of votes cast during that particular week. That said, does that declaration also impact our imagination and our sense of belonging? Beyond the hundreds that we see in the audience, we hear that millions have voted, does that increase our sense of community?
HEATHER BETTE HUGHES says
I do think television programs like AI intentionally show scenes of audience members and the results of polls they are allowed to take for at least two very specific reasons. For one, it allows *spectactors* to feel an increased sense of belonging in the production of the spectacle as peripheral participants, thereby increasing and sustaining the desired fan base. Likewise, as a popular spectacle of mass consumption whose programming is based on numbers-generated revenue, AI literally banks on viewer engagement and cannot afford to risk losing viewers=money by failing to either appease them or deny them a sense of bargaining rights. The concept and act of voting is thus utilized to keep viewers in the game.
MICHAEL DENNIS MONTALTO-ROOK says
Interesting idea, Becci. I also wanted to add in that by voting for a particular singer, we are coming together for a shared purpose and goal… that of, make that singer the next American idol.
DOUGLAS PAUL YOCUM says
Inline with the reported votes on AI, how about general TV show ratings and reported viewership? I will admit to being disappointed when one of my favorite show’s rating drops. Only 14.2 million people are watching this year, down from last years 16.8M, so I feel abandoned (or at least imagine I do). Perhaps that’s a stretch, but you get the idea. Do we just want other people to like the same thins as us? Something in common to “identify” with.
REBECCA WEST BURNS says
Great point!
REBECCA WEST BURNS says
Great point! I’d love to discuss your thoughts further.
bsr11 says
RadioLab has an episode called “Laughter” where they talk about this idea of creating a connection with and a community of the audience, and that is why they use studio audiences or laugh tracks. Behavior cues are contagious in a community. The episode also explores ‘crowd control’ from the viewpoints of comedians, police, etc. I recommend you check it out at wnyc.org. (Can you tell I’ve listend to a lot of RadioLab recently? I’ve taken a lot of long trips in the car recently…)
SCOTT P MCDONALD says
I think TV in all its form, reality or otherwise, is really about creating a shared set of stories that a community knows. One of the definitions (not Wenger’s) of identity is that it is the stories we tell others about ourselves. By extension it seems to me that a community is a group of people that have a shared set of known stories. AI is really an extended story, just as LOST, 24, or House are all extended stories. We are connected to others who know those stories because we now share culture with them.