Everyone has that American dream of being on the big screen. Well, 106 & Park has a new portion of the show that could make your wish into reality. Encouraging the show’s audience and contestants to be a part of the public sphere, by bringing together people who love music of all genres a chance to compete for the spotlight. Urging participation of a common identity in a broader public culture.
Every Wednesday during 106 & Park’s segment from 6 - 8pm, three artists or groups compete before a live studio audience.
This particular segment of the show (Wild Out Wednesday) was added to BET’s popular video countdown show 106 & Park’s weekly schedule in 2011 to give vocal groups, solo artists and dancers between the ages of eighteen and twenty-eight, the amazing opportunity to reach bigger heights. The competitions are divided each week by genre, so week-by-week groups or artists compete in separate competitions. The audience at home chooses the weekly winners and the best of the best come back for the summer all-star series. Relating to Haberma’s public sphere; “private individuals (genre competitors) would come together in a shared space and public opinion would be developed through discussion of ideas, values and events”. pg.174
Relating the idea of a public sphere to a segment in this show is a great example. Not only does this format bring people together, like the definition of a public sphere states, but it gives people a chance show off their individual talents.
ReplyDeleteSeems a lot like American Idol, which is always entertaining. I think it has different motives as you pointed out. It's more about bringing people together to embrace music.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that the show lets fans perform on the program. I would never have thought that a large scale television show would allow this in the program. great example
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