Zawaya

Star Academy: The bases of talent discovery should be reviewed

By: Mohamed Yehdih Ould Baba Ahmed

I personally think that it is necessary to point out that people in the world today have become a part of a whole, because of globalization which has invaded every home from inside and outside, and made it under control. At the internal level, people are monitored in their daily interactions with hundreds of faces, be it while purchasing things they need or at the workplace. On the external level, the home and office remain open to thousands of satellite channels and websites that broadcast good programs sometimes and bad ones other times; these programs are a double-edged sword that has the ability to be influential and bring change.

Reality TV shows to which Star Academy belongs are no different than these programs, although they are different by their idea, which is based on realism and spontaneous shooting with the sequence of events. According to the producers, this show aims at discovering young and new artistic talents, by putting a group of boys and girls in the “Academy” to teach them all patterns of art, such as singing and acting, etc. Then, one candidate is eliminated each week based on the votes of the public, and only one candidate wins the title at the end of each show. But the questions which remain open are: how transparent and fair is the show towards candidates? Is talent discovery truly its sole criterion? Or are there other factors that intervene in this competition, such as compromising moral values and dignity of the person?

To answer these questions, it seems very difficult to judge these programs if you don’t know them very well. However, based on the rule that states that things that can’t be totally understood should not be totally rejected, I believe that this program has contributed to the discovery of young talents that existed but remained unknown, and thanks to its selection of candidates, and shedding light on them, they have become known for sure. This program has also gained significant momentum among Arab viewers who are glued to the TV every evening to watch it. At the same time however, the show faced various bitter – and even scandalous – criticisms from some of the candidates, although the management of the show rejected all claims, considering that this happens in each season of the program, and that they are fabricated by some of the candidates who have not been accepted at the Academy. However, it is remarkable how every move of the candidates is monitored by cameras, in a way that might be embarrassing sometimes, or – as some say – entice to commit immorality, obscenity, and prostitution. Also, some candidates have complained about some of the questions they were asked, claiming that they try to root out values, customs, and religion. If these accusations are borne out, they can be very serious issues that might raise suspicions towards the show, which is supposed to have fair and objective criteria towards the young talents that are confused in this stormy period of their lives, and who even imagine that they are the center of the universe.

Finally, the principles and criteria that allow the discovery of young talents should be reviewed on an equitable basis through the establishment of a jury, like the one in the annual show “Prince of Poets” in the UAE, although we should not forget that in spite of all this, nothing is perfect, and such is the human endeavor.