In order to understand and appreciate art, one must possess a curiosity and open-mindedness. Those qualities aren’t necessarily rare; however, they are usually neither desirable to nor present in conservatives. Some have argued in the past and I do right now that there is no such thing as good right-wing art. Contemporarily, the reactionary MAGA movement is too fixated on its own preconceived notions born of irrational, pathetic fear to spend any time looking past the surface of any creative work.
MAGA had hoped to seize our hearts and minds along with political power in 2024. But its ranks of rich people and tragic dupes who buy into fearmongering and empty promises just can’t seem to create anything with the kind of broad appeal enjoyed by artists who actually make an effort to live and express ideas thoughtfully.
Conservative attempts to produce mainstream films consist of off-putting fringe snooze-fests like the Daily Wire’s inane transphobic “Ladyballers” or alleged-rapist director Brett Ratner’s dead-on-arrival Melania documentary. Turning Point USA’s idea of a badass concert appealing enough to compete with a blowout Superbowl halftime show is Kid Rock (gag), followed by some wealthy stooge cosplaying poverty and mewling about how he just wants to drink beers in his truck by the river (as if you aren’t allowed to these days because of wokies). As evidenced by viewership statistics and critical reception, few tune in to this propagandistic garbage.
The artists most people look up to have not fallen in line to accept the poisonous Trump-shaped shadow looming over every aspect of American life in the mid-2020s. When Trump implemented his genius idea to rename the Kennedy Center to honor himself, many artists canceled their performances there, including the touring production of Hamilton, the Washington National Opera, Philip Glass, Issa Rae, and Kristy Lee.
See also the countless musicians who have demanded their work not be affiliated with Trump after he and his staff used it without permission. Jack White, ABBA, and Sabrina Carpenter are just a few among many who have fiercely rebuked the theft of their work to promote Trump’s racism and the vicious ICE raids causing daily suffering.
While the right is busy blaming every problem in America on immigrants, it fails to notice that it’s already lost the culture war. Artists give us introspection, connection, and a vision of what we could be. They are beacons of change and progress, and no artist who strives to do more than make money sides with the racist pigs wounding Lady Liberty, named MAGA.
Declan Goldenbogen is a South Seattle musician and writer, and an outspoken critic of right-wing politics. Send comments to FSnews@socialism.com.
