Thursday, January 26, 2006

Something Not About Politics....for a change

Not to put too fine a point on this but.....Since when is Actress Oprah Winfrey an expert on or an arbiter of "Literature"?

Although her legions of fans apparently opiated by her image and "charisma" will buy anything she says, there are those of us out here in the world who don't buy it at all.

Author and would be literary celebrity James Frey was one of the beneficiaries of the "Oprah Factor" after she plugged his work on her daytime TV show. Sales of his supposedly autobiographic tale of drug addiction went through the roof and drew the attention of some curious folks around the internet and bloggosphere! In short order the independent researchers revealed that much of the book " A million Little Pieces " was less than accurate! Apparently embellishments and fabrications contributed to make the book more "Fiction" than cronical.

So, apparently after the controversy errupted the"O"s position has been to support the author, or at least defend her support for the author clsely followed by some criticism and denial of support for the author. I wonder if she still "Likes" the book?

My point in this little tale is that I think that Oprah Winfrey or at least her staff ought to make some effort to qualify their opinions on literature before they foist them on the unquestioning masses who are lapping up every last thing coming out of the Chicago media empire.
Just from a standpoint of maintaining credibility it only makes sense. I guess that a lot of people have been waiting for a gaff like this to happen and now that it has question every aspect of the marketing machine she has created. Actually, I suspect that "Her" involvement in the too good to be true success is more mythical than factual. An this is where the whole thing is going.

How much of the Oprah Myth is a construct?
Will this be the beginning of an un-ravelling like that which Martha Stewart went through?
Can or Should anyone take this kind of thing seriously?
How many other books that she plugged are as questionable in their value?
What about some of her pet "People" projects?
Is Dr. Phil McGraw maybe not all he is cracked up to be?
Will people ever stop to think before worshipping at the temple of celebrity and media dieties?




P/S

Now I'll admit that I have not read the book....and given the circumstances around its creation and marketing don't feel inclined to. But, I am curious about exactly how much of the book is a creation as opposed to being a tale of record. And I am neither recommending or not recommending it in any way to anyone.

1 Comments:

Blogger OMMAG said...

Update....
Oprah Pilloried the hapless Author on her show!

Question?

Why did this guy let himself be put through this ?
Hmmmm.....?
Speculation: Oprah paid him to sit there and take the abuse!

2/10/2006 11:58 a.m.  

Post a Comment

<< Home