The X Factor and Reality Television: Beyond Good and Evil

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Graham, Stephen. 2017. The X Factor and Reality Television: Beyond Good and Evil. Popular Music, 36(1), pp. 6-20. ISSN 0261-1430 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Reality television gets a raw deal. Despite huge popularity and lasting cultural impact, shows such as The X Factor, a British music competition that started screening in 2004, are seen by many as a cultural nadir. But I argue in this article that, whilst reading reality television as an index of an increasingly superficial, market-based culture makes a great deal of sense, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Using the particular music-based dramas of The X Factor as case study, I explore ways in which both this show and populist reality television in general might be seen to embody both the predicaments and potential pressure points of contemporary neoliberal culture.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261143016000635