The Politics of Entertainment
Article by Kyrie Robertson, TPT Staff Writer
From Broadway to Hollywood, there has been an uptick in criticism from the public on the increasing “politicization” of entertainment. It seems those issuing criticism have been misled: entertainment has always been political - entertainment is the epitome of politics. It has been this way for millennia. Ancient Rome’s Martial’s humorous, and often critical, social commentary on Roman life rivals that of a modern-day comedian. Billy Joel’s infamous “We Didn’t Start The Fire'' makes the same arguments as Taylor Swift’s oh-so-political “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.” From “I Married a Communist” to “Die Hard” to “Gladiator” – the media we consume has always had some political commentary – but why are the masses just realizing this now?
Halle Bailey in Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid,” set to release this year. Photo: People / Disney
The truth is that people only recognize entertainment as being politicized when it stops agreeing with their politics. Similar to sensory adaptation, humans phase out the things they are used to seeing; inversely, when they see something that deviates from their “norms” (in the case of American entertainment, “norms” tend to reflect traditional societal gender and racial roles) - they acknowledge those things as strange and conceptually new. However, it’s important to understand that just because something does not appear in the media you consume, does not mean that thing does not exist. The “sudden” addition of representation into media is not a part of some “woke” agenda - it is companies finally recognizing their audience and incorporating them onscreen. The world is not inherently straight, white, or able-bodied. Gay people have always existed. Disabled people have always existed. People of color have always existed. Some may see a black Ariel or Annabeth Chase as problematic because those characters were not initially written as people of color; but really, these depictions just disagree with what they believe their “politics” are (i.e., white supremacy). Those same people probably didn’t bat an eye when Johnny Depp played a Native American -- or Angelina Jolie, a mixed woman.
While heightened representation in television isn’t inherently political - it does naturally correlate with an increase in liberalism being portrayed in entertainment. Minorities and younger people tend to lean more liberally and that is translating to media. However, that doesn’t mean that the entertainment industry wasn’t political before - it just wasn’t liberal. Hollywood, in particular, has leaned notably conservative over the last century. Undertaking a large role during the Cold War in spreading anti-communist sentiments, Hollywood was not tolerant of anything less than complete disdain for communism and socialism. Famously, the Hollywood Ten were blacklisted and sentenced to jail for refusing to confirm or deny that they were communists. Conservative values in Hollywood continued into the 21st century, especially after 9/11, which indirectly created a subgenre of overtly pro-American, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab movies (i.e., “Rules of Engagement” and “American Sniper”). In addition, entertainment industries, like Hollywood, don’t just commentate on politics - they actively contribute to political change. From Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, Hollywood has created a special brand of politician: the connected and charismatic, typically conservative, anti-tax advocate. This phenomenon has instilled false confidence in other entertainment figures that they are capable of leading a career in politics – from Kanye West to Mehmed Oz, Hollywood is slowly assimilating into politics.
Protestors rally in support of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was sentenced to Federal prison. Photo: Bleecker Street / The Everett Collection
When referencing entertainment, it should be acknowledged that it encompasses much more than just television or film. It extends to music, sports, and other live performances. Music, particularly, plays an integral part in American politics - a role that people seem to cyclically rediscover. Take the public response to Taylor Swift’s political coming-out, for instance. When Swift spoke out against the conservative U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn in 2018, she was chastised by conservatives - as though the idea of a musician speaking about political issues was foreign. The Guardian was so bold as to say “She just ended her career”, but six studio albums later, Swift’s career has undoubtedly more than recovered. This is because political beliefs typically aren’t unique - for every conservative that is offended by liberalist content, there is a liberal nodding in agreement (and vice versa). What would it matter that Donald Trump liked her music “25% less now” when her advocacy won over thousands of new young fans? Politicians also use music to their advantage, even to the dismay of musicians. An example of this is Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The USA”, which was used by Ronald Reagan in his second presidential run. Mistaken for a patriotic American anthem, “Born In The USA” is an anti-war song referencing how the government failed Vietnam veterans. Springsteen was reportedly “outraged”, saying at a concert “I don’t think [Reagan’s] been listening…”, ever since, Springsteen has been very vocal about the political messages of his songs as an advocate for the “disenfranchised.” Reagan went on seemingly unaffected, winning his election by a landslide.
Taylor Swift announces her support for Tennessee Democrat Phil Bredesen in the 2018 midterm elections, breaking years of silence on politics. Photo: Instagram / ABC News
It would be absurd to suggest that entertainment has only recently been politicized - it was born out of the need to express opinions, political and otherwise. Older generations that are criticizing this increased “politicization” only see it as such because they grew up surrounded by mainly conservative media, which influenced (and was influenced by) the creation of conservative social and economic policies. This increase in liberalism in the media has the ability to affect policy in the same way. Entertainment’s recognition of its audience showcases the growth of a nation. The United States can only have a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” if that government is extending equitable rights and representing every person within its territory. Now that entertainment is taking steps to honestly depict who the people of the United States are, perhaps Congress will begin drafting policies that reflect those people. It’s important to note, however, that the populace, and their beliefs, will continue to change with time. So, while liberalism is replacing conservatism as the main political force in entertainment, that will change as people change - evolution is inevitable.
The views articulated in this piece are the writer’s own, and do not necessarily reflect the official stances of The Progressive Teen or High School Democrats of America.