THE IDOL EFFECT: How Culture Reinforces Voting Habits in Democracies

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I really liked Samantha for the first part of the book then this changed to a rabid dislike of her, but there are reasons for this and I think readers will either empathise or totally loathe her However, understanding idols in this way alone may not be sufficient to capture the social attributes that an idol has in itself and his social influence and appeal. An idol group requires a blend of psychology, culture, music, aesthetics, and technology. Emotional connection is an essential and crucial point in fan culture. While singers and actors use their works to create an emotional connection, idols create an emotional connection based on the person himself, making this emotional connection even more essential and inseparable. In other words, the more affluent and robust an idol’s emotional connection with its audience and fan base, the better it is for the long-term development of the idol group and the business organization behind it. The more positive impact an idol group that represents the positive side of society will have on the fans with which they have an emotional connection. Previously, studies have been conducted on fan-related activities, and results have shown that the expressive activities of idols allow fans to gain cultural capital. It is a brand-new way to build social connections with celebrities, make fans feel close to their idols, and impart knowledge to fans through “collective wisdom” (Mansor et al., 2020).

The only time I laughed reading this was when the MC is send to talk to the woman accusing her of sexual assault by her agent, because that is so unrealistically stupid that it genuinely made me laugh out loud. I thought this was a timely story and although the characters weren’t likeable they were highly interesting. A highly entertaining read! Determined to speak her truth and bare all to her adoring fans, she's written an essay about her sexual awakening as a teenager, with her female best friend, Lisa. She's never told a soul but now she's telling the world. The essay goes viral. Ultimately, to me, this does a huge disservice to everyone who has ever been the victim of sexual violence. Our MC has suffered through sexual violence, but since she lied about how it happened, it will only be used against her. The best friend, who has come forward with her allegations and is obviously not well, literally only suffers for trying to speak her truth and will continue to do so now that the truth is finally out in the world. So really, there is no way to win. Isn't that just the uplifting message you want to send to people dealing with sexual violence? Obviously it isn't. So why send it? For me, it basically ruined all the good parts by the way the MC deteriorated in the second half of the book. I didn't want to be part of this spiral into utter and absolute desolation and chaos, I really didn't want to be. Especially not in the head of this insanely unreliable narrator. Many parts of this were so cringey I really don't know how I made it through. This is supposed to be an adult woman losing her shit, but she reads like a thirteen year old. It wasn't fun, believe me.

Idol by Louise O'Neill is a fast and addictive read that I found really intriguing. Well written and filled with darkness. Notably, of all the characters Tesfaye helped create for the show, his is one of the few who isn’t required to spend their time on screen parading around in their underwear – or less. But he has given himself some eyebrow-raising dialogue, including (I’ve replaced the body parts with vegetables, to render the thing publishable): “I want to grab you by the pumpkin while you suffocate on my parsnip”.

It's not often that I can read a story with a VERY unlikeable main character and still enjoy the story. I caught on early to the true nature of our protagonist, though I don't know if that's down to the writing, or me having spent a few years behind the curtain in YouTube event green rooms. I think it's a timely story in lots of ways, not least of which because of the public fall of a guru or two we've seen in the past couple of years, but also as we navigate this new-ish world of social media and celebrity being so... parasitic to each other?This HBO drama about a Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus-like pop star on the edge is the brainchild of Euphoria creator Levinson, nightclub mogul Reza Fahim, and Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as pop star The Weeknd. And when it was announced the opening two (of five) episodes would be screening at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, critics’ nostrils started twitching: the scent of a fiasco was already on the wind. However, a sociological theory is also behind the fan’s crazy obsession with idols. Social exchange theory has two essential orientations: first, individual psychological orientation, i.e. social exchange is attributed to individual utilitarian calculations and intrinsic motivations; second, structural collective orientation, i.e., social exchange is attributed to the constraints of social structure and the guidance of social norms. The fans’ crazy love and devotion to idols is mainly the first type of social exchange theory-psychological orientation. Fans are loyal to their idols mainly because they can resonate with ordinary people mentally and emotionally. In other words, fans gain a tremendous sense of identification when they follow their idols, and identification as an emotional mechanism makes fans feel involved, as if everything is happening around them. Fans or viewers accept the idol’s goals and the state of their identity. A satisfactory definition of identity should explain the relationship between identification and other ways viewers relate to the character, such as attitudes and emotions (Cohen, 2001). Moreover, with good manners, hobbies and life values, there is identity; the inner interaction of the fan base can find a foothold for the soul through good manners, shared hobbies and life values as the fans follow in their self-idol. Idol - like all of Louise's books - is a timely and incisive take on important socio-cultural issues. As always, her commentary is searing and her writing scalpel-sharp. Essentially this is a story about the subjectivity of memory and the curation and manipulation of the past to spin a suitable narrative. This is also a book about friendship and envy, and although this book is set in New York and Connecticut, the story throbs with the bitterness of Irish begrudgery.

One of the more typical examples is the star-making process of the Chinese idol Lee. Throughout the process, fans engaged in a relatively diverse and intense activity by becoming active promoters of Li. Li worked hard to prepare for her performances, creating a personal image of a person who strives to improve her dreams, progress, and achieve her dreams beyond herself. She enters competitions, and her fans go crazy canvassing for votes at every show. She goes on tour around the country and interacts with her fans in a friendly manner during her performances. Her fans promote albums in different ways, take the initiative to buy several other albums, and even call on those around her to do so. This emotional connection not only brings good commercial value and economic benefits. From a pop culture perspective, the emotional connection between fans and idols is equivalent to fans identifying with the values of their idols. In contrast, the image of a promising idol, in turn, shapes the values of the fans, and both sides can grow together. Livingstone, S. (1998). Relationships between Media and Audiences: Prospects for Audience Reception Studies (pp. 237-255). Routledge.Please be aware that the delivery time frame may vary according to the area of delivery - the approximate delivery time is usually between 1-2 business days. There are many triggers, most of the ones you are thinking are there and do form part of the complete story and not just thrown in for effect Delivery with Standard Australia Post usually happens within 2-10 business days from time of dispatch. Please be aware that the delivery time frame may vary according to the area of delivery and due to various reasons, the delivery may take longer than the original estimated timeframe. There were lots of satisfying moments in this book but the ending was the cherry on the cake, and I feel like I let out a sigh of relief when everything came crashing down once again.