My Independent Research Project

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Independent Research Project

By Tiana Vitlic

The purpose of entertainment of the X Factor show is present in the setting of the show, where judges, a contestant auditioning and an audience provides for a stage-like sort of entertainment, and a strong and exciting atmosphere where all forms of entertainment are expected. All contestants audition from across the country in order to showcase their singing voice and get through to the next round, the ultimate aim being the winner of X Factor. There generally would be genuine contestants that aim for this goal. However, questions are raised when cases such as “Ablisa’s X Factor Audition (Full Version)” occur, where there could potentially be underlying intentional acts in order to receive high ratings and provide more entertainment for the show, resulting in an interaction between the contestant, judges and audience that is not necessarily genuine. The contestants are perceived to be genuinely auditioning for a spot on the show, however when situations like ‘Ablisa’s audition occur, many question whether these are intentionally placed in the show for the purpose of entertainment of an interaction, though possibly framed and scripted, of the judges and the contestant.

The basic situation of the audition consists of two apparent friends named Abby, 18, and Lisa, 17, or together titled Ablisa, auditioning for a role together on the X Factor. Their audition provides much entertainment for the judges, audience and for television viewers as the contestants break many social and moral codes and rules of conduct during their audition on live television. The entire atmosphere of the audition is set as thrilling from the moment the girls start showing the judges and audience attitude, and especially when Abby has a tantrum and exits the stage. This causes shock for the judges and the audience, clearly shown in the gasps of surprise coming from the audience, and as the judges question whether Ablisa will return on stage. Once the contestants joint the stage once more, they are joined by a cheer and surrounding “boo’s” by the audience, and judges who merely would like to continue with the show. Ablisa perform, with Abby’s back to the audience perceived to be due to shame, and once they complete their audition, Lisa does not agree with what she hears by both the judges and the audience in terms of her audition with Abby. This causes Lisa to react in a rude and inappropriate way, as the judges do not satisfy her needs, and the constant reactions from the audience only fuel her anger. Once she makes a comment that is entirely inappropriate, Abby walks off in embarrassment of her friend, not before physically assaulting her publically on stage.

Both Abby and Lisa break rules of conduct throughout their audition, causing not only Abby to have to save face, but the judges have to save face for the show and for the audience. Lisa begins by making rude and unnecessary comments, simply and causally blurting them out of her mouth and causing an already established interaction between the judges and the audience that sees Lisa as being socially rude. This is evident in the following extract:

LISA: She was saying you were really fit the other week, sorry! (laughs)

SIMON: Louis?
LISA: Yeah, Louis. And I said he’s an old man, sorry! (audience begins to laugh  

           and react) I said, like, he could be the same age as my granddad, sorry! 

           (audience laugh)

            LOUIS: What do you mean “old”?
            LISA: Erm, pardon?
            SIMON: No, Louis, Louis..

The excerpt above allows for an understanding of the interaction going on in this particular scene where Lisa does not adhere to social rules about politeness, especially to your elders and on live television where the aim is to gain the support of the judges and the audience. Abby is clearly embarrassed by Lisa’s attitude and forwardness, especially when Lisa tells the audience to “stop laughing” at her and her use of profanity when she tells the audience to “shut up!” when their reactions are not to her satisfaction. This attitude is seen as a conduct of misbehaviour as it is not a regular act for a contestant on the X Factor. Goffman (1967) states that rules of conduct are a “guide for action… impinge upon the individual in two general ways: directly, as obligations, establishing how he is morally constrained to conduct himself; indirectly, as expectations, establishing how others are morally bound to act in regard to him”. The expectation is that Abby will adhere to rules, and her obligation is to do so. The consequence of Lisa not following the rules of conduct is that she ultimately embarrasses herself and Abby, and that she loses face throughout the audition, and makes no attempt to retrieve it. Goffman also emphasises that “when a rule of conduct is broken we find that two individuals run the risk of becoming discredited” in which case both girls do become discredited by the end of their performance. Wieder (1974) states that treating the rules of the code as maxims of conduct that is to be followed and enforced upon one another provides a traditional sociological explanation for the regular patterns of non-deviant behaviour observed. Any deviant behaviour allows for a noticeable breaking of the code, which can lead to several consequences as shown in the audition by ‘Ablisa’. It is expected that the contestants will behave a certain way, however when they do not meet the audiences expectation, and do not meet their obligation to behave a certain way, it causes upheaval. Goffman (1967) states that once it is clear that a person may meet an obligation without feeling it, the obligation which is felt is something that ought to be done, and may strike the obligated person either as a desired thing or as an unpleasant or pleasant duty. Clearly, neither contestant felt the need to meet their obligation and went through with acting in an unordinary way.

Lisa does not make any attempt to save face, apart from when she has a defensive attitude and informs the audience and the judges that she does not care for their thoughts on her voice. This suggests insecurity in terms of her voice or self, and is attempting to save face. Lisa loses face completely, however, when it comes to the performance of ‘Ablisa’. Goffman (1967) states “when an individual becomes involved in the maintenance of a rule, he tends also to become committed to a particular image of self. In the case of his obligations, he becomes to himself and others the sort of person who follows this particular rule, the sort of person who would naturally be expected to do so”. The pure act of deference implies that the performer basically possesses a sentiment of regard for the recipient, according to Goffman (1967), but in this case Lisa had no sentiment for the audience or the judges. She did not care how she presented herself, was quite rude and impolite throughout the audition, and did not attempt to save face for her audition with Abby or for Abby herself. This essentially suggests that this audition could have been staged entirely purely for entertainment, as this is not a regular act on a live television show as it causes both the audience and judges to be in shock. Goffman (1971) states, “there is the popular view that the individual offers his performance and puts on his show ‘for the benefit of other people’”. Similarly, there is the idea that perhaps either girl did not realise they were putting on an act, but believed their act to be reality in that they went along with the audience and the judges reactions in order to boost the attention their audience gave them. Goffman (1971) states that a performer can be sincerely convinced that the impression of reality in which he stages or performs is in fact the real reality, when the audience is also genuinely convinced by their performance. Goffman (1971) also raises an interesting point where he states that all cynical performers are interested in deluding their audiences for purposes of what is called ‘self-interest’ or private gain. This is shown as Lisa continuously loses face despite obvious attempts by Abby to save face, and despite the reactions of the audience and judges. This is similar in the case of Abby, where she loses face in a number of ways with her repetitive use of profanity, walking off stage, and the moment she physically assaults Lisa. This tears moral and social code, as it is expected as a contestant she will adhere to the rules of the show and is obligated to do so. Though there are multiple attempts to save face, more so than Lisa, she loses face most of all. The difference is that Abby tries to follow the rules of the show, and attempts to save face, as she is embarrassed of the way Lisa is acting and presenting ‘Ablisa’.  She tries to gain the support of the audience where she states in the following extract:

            LISA: Basically, at the end of the day we don’t care what you guys say, we just 

           came up here- (cut off by Abby)

ABBY: At the end of the day, yeah, obviously we care what you think but she’s

 just being a bit over the top..

Due to the fact that Lisa continuously loses face throughout the entire performance, Abby no longer tries to save face for ‘Ablisa’. Instead, she attempts to save face for herself, noticing the extent to which the audience dislikes Lisa’s rude attitude, and ultimately their performance. Walking off the stage was Abby’s initial reaction due to Lisa’s comments obviously being embarrassing, but returns to stage with a fresh attitude in order to perform their piece. Throughout their performance, however, Abby has her back to the audience, suggesting that she is possibly insecure about performing in front of the audience, especially after the initial reactions after Lisa’s disrespectful and ungracious attitude caused such upheaval prior to their performance. Facework is “an image self-delineated in terms of approved social attributes” (Goffman, 1967), leaving ‘Ablisa’ with loss of face as the social audience do not technically approve of their behaviour.

The reactions of the judges are what make the scene typical in terms of a live television show and saving face for the judges themselves and for the show. Simon Cowell, who is a well known, and who is ultimately the head judge of the show, maintains most of the face in this scene. His reactions towards the audition by ‘Ablisa’ are considered to be most crucial to the workings of the show. He conducts certain judges, and the audience, in silence in order to give the contestants a chance to perform without being interrupted. He is adhering to the social rules and rules of conduct of the show in terms of being a judge, maintaining face verbally and physically. When he orders the audience to calm down, he raises his hand in order to allow Lisa, who is clearly frustrated by the audiences reactions, to speak. He defends the audience, however, when Lisa orders the audience to “Shut up!”, even though it is not her place to do so.

            SIMON:          Can I be honest with you two? You have the worst attitude of any

contestants I have ever met on any of these shows. I mean seriously, seriously, rude.

LISA:              Like, when you’re up here, yeah, and they’re there like (points to the audience) “boo!”, yeah, you’re not gonna be like up here normal, are you?

SIMON:          Yeah, but Lisa, you did tell them to shut up before you even started to sing.

            LISA:              I know..

ABBY:            At the end of the day the audience are entitled to their own opinion, so let them just say what they want to say.

Louis is genuinely offended by the remarks Lisa makes about him in the beginning of their audition, and this is seen as a breaking of the social and moral code as Lisa blurts out remarks that are taken and seen as rude comments, although she might not initially perceive what she says to be at all rude. Her demeanour is seen as rude and offensive, and Louis’ facial reactions and reactions reflect that. Natalie’s reaction to Lisa’s comment of “Who are you?!”, in reaction to Natalie informing the girls that the audition “wasn’t very good”, ultimately caused Abby to walk out and physically assault Lisa in the face on live television. Natalie was simply performing what she was required to do as a judge, give her opinion on their singing performance, not any other performance  throughout their audition. Lisa, again, blurted out a comment that breaks social and moral code and caused Abby to once again be embarrassed of her, which ultimately left them both losing face in the end. Cheryl Cole’s shocked reaction of “She punched her in the face? She punched her in the face!” and overall disbelief of the situation clearly conveys that this act is not a normal act to perform on live television, and definitely unexpected.  

The performance conducted by ‘Ablisa’ is clearly entertaining, however many social and moral codes are broken with Lisa’s blurting out and rude attitude and demeanour, and the physical violence seen by Abby and her rude attitude shown on multiple occasions. This leaves the audience and judges shocked, with the judges trying to save face and maintain the image of themselves and ultimately the show. Facework is evident throughout the audition, and the way in which the girls present themselves is shown to be careless. The code is ultimately broken, and the interaction between the contestants, the judges and the audience provides for an entertaining yet unusual scenario for a live television show.

 References

Goffman, E 1967, ‘The Nature of deference and demeanour’, Interaction Ritual: Essays on Face-to-Face behaviour, Doubleday, Garden City, NW, pp47-95.

Goffman, E 1971, ‘Performances’, The Presentation of Self in Everyday life, Harmondsworth, Penguin, pp28-82

Jimerson, J B, & Oware, M K 2006, Telling the Code of the Street: An Ethnomethodological Ethnography, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, vol.35, no.24, pp24-50.

Labov, W 1972, ‘Rules for ritual insults’, Studies in Social Interaction, Free Press, New York, pp120-169.

Mouzelis, N 1992, ‘The Interaction Order and the Micro-Macro Distinction’, Sociological Theory, vol.10, no.1, pp122-128.

TheXFactorUK, 2010, 'Ablisa's X Factor Audition (Full Version) - itv.com/xfactor', accessed 01/11/2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrNbLBS1D2Q

Wieder, DL 1974, ‘Telling the code’, Ethnomethodology: Selected Readings, Penguin Education, Harmondsworth, pp144-172.