I've noticed something lately, a creeping phenomenon that's making me question the very fabric of our appreciation rituals. (I'm not even talking about tipping because that's another issue.)
It seems we've entered an era where simply clapping isn't enough. Every performance, from the slightly-off-key rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" at a school concert to a passable pop song cover on a reality TV show, is met with a unanimous, thunderous, standing ovation.
And frankly, I'm starting to wonder: have we lost our minds?
Don't get me wrong, I love a good standing ovation. There's nothing quite like the surge of energy, the shared excitement, the feeling of collective awe that washes over an audience when a performer truly blows us away. A standing ovation, in its purest form, is the ultimate expression of gratitude, a physical manifestation of being moved beyond words. It's a sign that something truly extraordinary has happened.
But that’s precisely the problem. If everything warrants a standing ovation, then nothing does. The specialness, the significance, the very meaning of this powerful gesture gets diluted, eroded by overuse. It becomes a default setting, a knee-jerk reaction, a hollow echo of genuine appreciation.
Think about reality TV. Every contestant, regardless of their actual performance quality, is greeted with a standing ovation from the entire studio audience. Are we really that impressed? Are we genuinely believing that every aspiring singer, dancer, or cook is delivering a performance worthy of this extraordinary acknowledgement? Or are we simply caught up in the manufactured drama, the pressure to conform, the fear of seeming like we didn’t “get it”?
The same goes for school concerts. While I applaud (pun intended) the effort and dedication of young performers, I can't help but feel that showering them with standing ovations after every single song sets an unrealistic expectation. It robs them of the opportunity to learn the subtle nuances of performance, to understand the difference between a good performance and a truly outstanding one. Are we teaching them to strive for excellence, or are we simply rewarding participation?
Isn't clapping enough anymore? Clapping, in its diverse forms, is a perfectly acceptable and versatile expression of appreciation. From the polite, rhythmic applause for a competent performance to the enthusiastic, thunderous clapping for something truly enjoyable, it allows us to convey our gratitude without resorting to the overblown drama of a standing ovation for everything.
So, what’s the solution? I'm not suggesting we should abolish standing ovations altogether. They still have their place, a place of honor, reserved for those truly transcendent moments that leave us breathless and inspired. But I am suggesting we need to be more discerning, more thoughtful, and more honest in our expressions of appreciation.
Let's bring back the power of the clap. Let's use it to convey a range of emotions, from polite acknowledgment to genuine delight. Let's reserve the standing ovation for those rare and truly exceptional performances that deserve to be celebrated in a way that echoes their profound impact.
Let's reclaim the standing ovation and restore its meaning. Let's make it a truly special and significant gesture once more. Because in the end, if everything gets a standing ovation, then nothing truly stands out. And that’s a disservice to the real artists, the true performers, who deserve to be recognized for their extraordinary talent and dedication. Let's save the standing ovations for them, and rediscover the joy of a good, honest clap.