A public flogging is so much fun, why is that?
The following letter to the NY Times made me stop and think about my own reaction to the James Frey - Oprah Winfrey news.
To the Editor:
Am I alone in feeling uneasy about the public shaming of a human being by a major celebrity on live television? In truth, it seems Oprah Winfrey's apology was an excuse for her to self-righteously berate the author James Frey for duping her.
With all of her power, was it necessary for Ms. Winfrey to take such an "eye for an eye" approach to her apology?
One thing is clear: The public support for her handling of the Frey fiasco proves that society still loves a good flogging in the square.
Patricia Madden, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 27, 2006
I was surprised at my own self-righteousness, and being caught up in the all the praise for Oprah being the grown-up and taking Mr Frey out to the woodshed. But Patricia Madden's letter is a good one. And I'm asking myself why the issues between Mr Frey and Oprah Winfrey, and how they resolve them, have any place on public television, or in public anywhere. I don't have any good answers.
Technorati Tags: memoir, public square, writing, truth
posted by Bill Anderson at
8:52 PM
4 Comments:
I tend to agree with you on this. Furthermore I think Oprah is given too much iconic moral standing. She's a businesswoman period. She lost credibility when she stood behind Frey in an attempt to salvage the value of her book club. When she received too much backlash from that support, she played the woodshed spanking routine to appease her audience and gain further ratings.
I've got her number and it's not one that I'll be watching anytime soon.
Just a quick comment/question?
Your profile photo leads me to question your love of boltzmann----are you a physicist?
Hi You are the only blogger on the list who was born in the same year as me.
I live in manchester England. Never been to New York.
I'll keep reading your stuff.
KAZ
I just started reading James Frey's book today. Thought I might see what all the stink is about.
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