celebrating mediocrity in america

just came from my cousin's 'arts concert', feeling deprived and disappointed. not only did i miss watching the new episode of Lost/AmericanIdol/Smallville, i had to endure spending that precious time watching a horrible ensemble from some gradeschoolers.

man, i'm bad.

it's really the school's fault, actually. it was obvious the 'concert' was another mere attempt to get the parents to flock to an after-school activity (previous ones included a science fair and poetry reading -- all pathetic), judging by how everything looked unprepared and rushed, with some clearly last-minute ideas (like getting gradeschoolers as host and poetry readers).

the result was a lifeless series of acts that made me cringe in frustation and desperate to just leave. it was all a dillusionment, knowing ho-hum performances made perfect excuses for parents to take pictures of their children and for the school to appear family-oriented and child-development-focused. gack.

man, i'm really really bad.

it was the whole mediocrity that got me. like the school was just contented with the whole package, just so long as there IS one to present. afraid to push the kids to try harder, lest they incur the wrath of parents. and then there are the really exaggerated displays of awe and wonder extended to the children; the congratulations made me squirm a bit, since they wanted the kids feel there was no room for improvement.

i guess this could translate to average performances from being a student to being an employee. coupled with knowledge of their rights (which they abuse), americans feel empowered by the little work they do, feeling they've done enough (to never do more), and must therefore deserve the appropriate commendations.

so am i still bad, or did i at least hit a right chord here?

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how different it is in the Philippines. reminiscing my own pre-highschool presentations had me recalling weeks of preparation, the minimal-but-creatively stage, and the different costumes, choreography and props for each act. there was that excitement in the air, even for one as young as i was then. and at the end of the show, i remembered the audience would applaud loudly, not only because of their pride in watching kids perform, but for the appreciation at all the hardwork and teamwork that pulled the event together.

i checked the internet later and was disappointed not to have watched, yet elated to know, that scott savol has been eliminated from american idol. the week before, i had the delicious satisfaction of seeing constantine off (man, was that guy annoying with his pathetic cuteness/appeal attempts at the camera). then on, i hoped i would see scott saying his goodbyes.