Now that 21 May has come and gone, the imminent rapture is no longer front page news*. We're finally able to move on to real news. Let's see - Middle East peace talks, 2012 presidential elections**...Oprah?
Indeed, Oprah Winfrey is a cultural phenomenon. She has had her own television show for 25 years, nearly my entire life, and has built a veritable media empire, from books to magazines to her own television network. While I have seen a few episodes of her show, I've never been an Oprah fan. Her last show airs (I think) today, which makes me wonder, "How did she do it?"
Indeed, part of Oprah's appeal is that, as an African-American woman, she identifies with (and, more importantly, is identified with by) large swaths of the population who feel oppressed, whether this feeling is justifiable or imagined entirely. This in itself is a large group. Furthermore, Oprah has been known throughout her career for philanthropy, whether this be opening schools for girls in Africa or giving everyone in her audience a new car. One can’t help asking whom Oprah will help next.
Oprah has an extraordinary capacity for using her popularity to create more popularity: she realized, by way of example, that people would read whatever she told them to read. Soon everyone is itching to read Oprah’s next book club selection. While I’m a fan of anything that gets people reading Steinbeck (my favorite author), Oprah never actually established herself as an authority in the book market. It happened with no justifiable cause.
But one thing more than any other that stands out about Oprah and has drawn a lot of people in is best summed up in her own words to her viewers:
My relationship with you [her viewers] is one that I hold very dear.
Excuse me? Relationship? With your viewers? Wow. Who else can say that? To Oprah’s allegiant, she is the neighbor who never gossips, no matter how juicy the secret.
Oprah will absolutely tell you about her own struggles: her difficult childhood, her weight issues, her love life – everyone knows Oprah’s business. Oprah has appeared jubilant as well as despondent. Thanks to James Frey, we even got to see angry Oprah (You lied to Oprah!). Everyone knows Oprah. And because Oprah is so open to her viewers, they can return the favor by being open with her, airing out their issues to the television, knowing that if Oprah were in the room she’d be listening and crying along with you.
Like I said, I’m not a fan. As a Christian, Oprah and I disagree on absolutely core issues. That being said, I have the utmost respect for Oprah. She’s something much larger than a talk show host: she’s an institution. Yet to people all around the world who tune in every day, Oprah is something much smaller than an institution: she’s a friend.
*The rapture is of course only a few pages back, as Camping has changed his predicted date to 21 October, my birthday. If Jesus could take away Family Radio, that would be the best birthday present ever.
**Senator Ryan, in or out? Seriously. Your Meet the Press dodging is annoying.
Now that 21 May has come and gone, the imminent rapture is no longer front page news*. We're finally able to move on to real news. Let's see - Middle East peace talks, 2012 presidential elections**...Oprah?
Indeed, Oprah Winfrey is a cultural phenomenon. She has had her own television show for 25 years, nearly my entire life, and has built a veritable media empire, from books to magazines to her own television network. While I have seen a few episodes of her show, I've never been an Oprah fan. Her last show airs (I think) today, which makes me wonder, "How did she do it?"
Indeed, part of Oprah's appeal is that, as an African-American woman, she identifies with (and, more importantly, is identified with by) large swaths of the population who feel oppressed, whether this feeling is justifiable or imagined entirely. This in itself is a large group. Furthermore, Oprah has been known throughout her career for philanthropy, whether this be opening schools for girls in Africa or giving everyone in her audience a new car. One can’t help asking whom Oprah will help next.
Oprah has an extraordinary capacity for using her popularity to create more popularity: she realized, by way of example, that people would read whatever she told them to read. Soon everyone is itching to read Oprah’s next book club selection. While I’m a fan of anything that gets people reading Steinbeck (my favorite author), Oprah never actually established herself as an authority in the book market. It happened with no justifiable cause.
But one thing more than any other that stands out about Oprah and has drawn a lot of people in is best summed up in her own words to her viewers:
My relationship with you [her viewers] is one that I hold very dear.
Excuse me? Relationship? With your viewers? Wow. Who else can say that? To Oprah’s allegiant, she is the neighbor who never gossips, no matter how juicy the secret.
Oprah will absolutely tell you about her own struggles: her difficult childhood, her weight issues, her love life – everyone knows Oprah’s business. Oprah has appeared jubilant as well as despondent. Thanks to James Frey, we even got to see angry Oprah (You lied to Oprah!). Everyone knows Oprah. And because Oprah is so open to her viewers, they can return the favor by being open with her, airing out their issues to the television, knowing that if Oprah were in the room she’d be listening and crying along with you.
Like I said, I’m not a fan. As a Christian, Oprah and I disagree on absolutely core issues. That being said, I have the utmost respect for Oprah. She’s something much larger than a talk show host: she’s an institution. Yet to people all around the world who tune in every day, Oprah is something much smaller than an institution: she’s a friend.
*The rapture is of course only a few pages back, as Camping has changed his predicted date to 21 October, my birthday. If Jesus could take away Family Radio, that would be the best birthday present ever.
**Senator Ryan, in or out? Seriously. Your Meet the Press dodging is annoying.
The Phantom of the Oprah
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