Community spirit and competition in Idols. Ritual meanings of a TV talent quest

The TV talent show Idols has been one of the most successful entertainment programmes internationally in recent years. In an attempt to explain the song contest's popularity, this article analyses the content of two seasons of the Dutch version of Idols, with particular attention to the ritual structure. The content analysis shows that the ritual meaning of Idols lies in the representation of harmony and ranking. By criticizing and disgracing `bad' contestants as a ritual of abjection, while at the same time glorifying the battle of the finalists as a classic rite of passage, an imaginary community is created with a fixed social order and a definable morality. Idols is thus able to serve as a platform for the articulation, representation and discussion of contemporary values.