The Age of Oprah, Cultural Icon For the Neoliberal Era

[Joanne98]

f you work hard enough, if you prepare long enough, if you visualize astutely and pray on it resolutely, it really can happen for you. At least that's the way it works in the world of Oprah Winfrey. In the Age of Oprah, author Janice Peck explains, there's no such thing as collective problem-solving; there are only individual, market-driven and spirit-centered solutions. Water polluted? Buy it bottled. Dissatisfied with your kids' school? Find a private one or home school. Dead-end job with no respect and no benefits? Polish that resume and assume an attitude of gratitude, or get ready to start your own business. House falling down? Maybe you can qualify for an extreme makeover. Is the world view of Oprah really uplifting after all? Or does it disempower individuals and disarm communities?

Bruce Dixon interviews Janice Peck, author of The Age of Oprah, Cultural Icon for the Neoliberal Era.

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=650&Itemid=1

[msongs]

1. oprah - ugh nt

[laststeamtrain]

2. K & R--Great headline.

Captures the rank BS that is Oprah. Her magic is tragic. The worst kind of pie in the sky by & by.

[rch35]

3. her endorsement of Obama was the biggest doubt I had about him. nt

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. It's a common delusion among people who have risen from humble circumstances

that "anyone" can do it.

[tomreedtoon]

5. I don't think Oprah's Favorite Things include democracy.

If you've ever seen her "Christmas present" show, and not been offended, you're probably one of her sponsors. That is the world where she wants us to live.

And it was chilling to read the article and see Winfrey associated with Reagan. It was chilling to me because it echoed on so many levels.

[prairierose]

6. I'm glad that someone is writing about this...

every time I hear about another one of her new shows/ideas, I am concerned about the numbers of people who might be buying into the fantasy and social darwinism that is at the heart of all of her actions.

[psychmommy]

7. she is a talk show host

no different than donahue, tyra, ellen, rosie and so on. why do people give her special powers? i liked that oprah dealt with issues. i liked that she started the book club-that spawned book clubs all over the country. people think it is cool to read. i like that she would put a focus on heroes-ordinary people that did something extraordinary. when hollywood stars would come on her show-you could see their normalness-not just the fancy cars and clothes. i like that she exemplifies america's obsession with weight and how hard it is to stay a size 6. her struggle with her weight shows her humanity. she is a regular person who hit it big. she is a role model to many-black females. any young females. women who can't or don't want to have kids. women who aspire to run their own business. she is a role model. americans put people on a pedestal and are so surprised when they fall from the pedestal.
perhaps the idea that i take from oprah is, i am not a victim. if my world isn't the way i want it to be then i have to work to change it. if my kids school isn't up to snuff then what am i doing to change it. if my house is falling down what am i doing to change it? this is what i was taught and what i am teaching my daughter.
leave oprah alone. hahahaha