"Idol" machine cranks out a new star

Alessandra Stanley introduces her topic by describing the final results of “American Idol” Season 8 as a metaphor for American values. What follows is an extended metaphor in which “American Idol” as a franchise is compared to a product manufactured on an industrial line. There is a formula or basic prototype, and this is churned out for consumption by a satisfied audience. The entire article, from the title onward, is constructed using images that contribute toward this reading. The article is thus cleverly and coherently constructed. But, I find that ultimately it contains a contradiction: the economic context within which Stanley situates this analysis is of a country in which the production line is exactly NOT running smoothly, and seems, in fact to be grinding to a halt. As such, her metaphor: “American Idol” = “state of America” falls flat. However, if she means that America could learn from “American Idol” in terms of how it runs itself (internally), how it markets itself (America seems desperately in need of good international PR), and the nature of its international involvement (anything that does not involve invasion may be a good idea), then the comparison holds. The success of the article – for me - therefore lies in how one interprets the fourth paragraph.