Oprah, writes [scholar Eva Illouz, author of the book, "Oprah Winfrey and the Glamour of Misery"], 'has regularly revealed "secrets" that all had one thing in common: they bore the mark of a failed psyche and failed relationships,...'
..."Eighty percent of self-help books - especially the spiritual, new-age ones - are purchased by her demographic: Women. I'm not saying Oprah is venal, but there are plenty of people who are duplicitous when it comes to making money."
Which brings up the next logical question: Does Oprah really believe this stuff? She was one of the earliest champions of "The Secret" - the book and DVD which preaches positive thinking results in a great life; conversely, if you're a failure, it's your fault. Yet when she suffered public backlash, she dropped all mentions of and associations with the book. Is that a true seeker, a shrewd businesswoman, or a bit of both?
And: If Oprah - a self-made multi-millionaire and a genius businesswoman - does believe all this stuff, how is it that she hasn't yet asked herself, "Why it hasn't worked?"
"I find her model of self-help deeply troubling," says Jennifer Harris, co-editor of "The Oprah Phenomenon." "She's always said that you can't depend on others for your happiness, not letting others define you - this is the discourse of the Oprah show. Meanwhile she's surrounded by all these people telling her she needs to control her authentic self, as if it's an unruly child."
Among the soldiers in Oprah's army of self-help: Dr. Phil McGraw, overweight author of diet books and unlicensed TV therapist; Eckhart Tolle, who speaks of the "pain body" and charges $40-$150 a pop for lecture tickets; the aforementioned "Secret" gurus; and Marianne Williamson, who had as a mentor a spirit named "Seth," channeled via a psychic.
How can a woman of such obvious native intelligence, who has publicly said she has never had therapy, and doesn't believe she needs it, opt for this kind of stuff instead?
"At some place along the line, good common sense took flight," says [Kitty Kelley], who notes that Oprah spent her childhood as a dedicated churchgoer in the South. "She both believes it and knows it sells. But it's a constant quest with her. I think the hunger for food, for some kind of meaning - that's where you get the constant reaching-out to the quacko-wackos." Oprah's gurus tend to fall into two categories: maternal white women (Williamson, Elizabeth Gilbert) and authoritarian men who brook no challenge, defiance or nuance (Dr. Phil, Bob Greene). "It's like they're spanking Oprah," Harris says.
-- Maureen Callahan, trying to understand why Oprah's advice of NewAge self-help is unsuccessful at everything - except fooling the public into making bad choices - in The New York Post.
What these people (those you quote above) think means nothing in the grand scheme of things, especially when Oprah is as successful as she is. Should we not be grateful people like her exist in this world? She is simply attempting to promote a healthy lifestyle: one of peace.
This world is full of misery. Why would you attempt to spread more misery? Multiple genocides are occurring as I type... as you read this. WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. Have you thought about Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka or Darfur lately? Do you have a clue what is going on in the real world? Oprah does. She has made a difference. It is up to the rest of us to support positive change in the world unless we want to spread the suffering.
Oprah, writes [scholar Eva Illouz, author of the book, "Oprah Winfrey and the Glamour of Misery"], 'has regularly revealed "secrets" that all had one thing in common: they bore the mark of a failed psyche and failed relationships,...'
..."Eighty percent of self-help books - especially the spiritual, new-age ones - are purchased by her demographic: Women. I'm not saying Oprah is venal, but there are plenty of people who are duplicitous when it comes to making money."
Which brings up the next logical question: Does Oprah really believe this stuff? She was one of the earliest champions of "The Secret" - the book and DVD which preaches positive thinking results in a great life; conversely, if you're a failure, it's your fault. Yet when she suffered public backlash, she dropped all mentions of and associations with the book. Is that a true seeker, a shrewd businesswoman, or a bit of both?
And: If Oprah - a self-made multi-millionaire and a genius businesswoman - does believe all this stuff, how is it that she hasn't yet asked herself, "Why it hasn't worked?"
"I find her model of self-help deeply troubling," says Jennifer Harris, co-editor of "The Oprah Phenomenon." "She's always said that you can't depend on others for your happiness, not letting others define you - this is the discourse of the Oprah show. Meanwhile she's surrounded by all these people telling her she needs to control her authentic self, as if it's an unruly child."
Among the soldiers in Oprah's army of self-help: Dr. Phil McGraw, overweight author of diet books and unlicensed TV therapist; Eckhart Tolle, who speaks of the "pain body" and charges $40-$150 a pop for lecture tickets; the aforementioned "Secret" gurus; and Marianne Williamson, who had as a mentor a spirit named "Seth," channeled via a psychic.
How can a woman of such obvious native intelligence, who has publicly said she has never had therapy, and doesn't believe she needs it, opt for this kind of stuff instead?
"At some place along the line, good common sense took flight," says [Kitty Kelley], who notes that Oprah spent her childhood as a dedicated churchgoer in the South. "She both believes it and knows it sells. But it's a constant quest with her. I think the hunger for food, for some kind of meaning - that's where you get the constant reaching-out to the quacko-wackos." Oprah's gurus tend to fall into two categories: maternal white women (Williamson, Elizabeth Gilbert) and authoritarian men who brook no challenge, defiance or nuance (Dr. Phil, Bob Greene). "It's like they're spanking Oprah," Harris says.
What these people (those you quote above) think means nothing in the grand scheme of things, especially when Oprah is as successful as she is. Should we not be grateful people like her exist in this world? She is simply attempting to promote a healthy lifestyle: one of peace.
ReplyDeleteThis world is full of misery. Why would you attempt to spread more misery? Multiple genocides are occurring as I type... as you read this. WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. Have you thought about Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka or Darfur lately? Do you have a clue what is going on in the real world? Oprah does. She has made a difference. It is up to the rest of us to support positive change in the world unless we want to spread the suffering.