Arts and Modern Politics: An Evolving Phenomenon

Most people’s mental image of a politician bears no resemblance to an artist. Politicians have traditionally been perceived as people in business attire standing behind podiums giving speeches to large crowds.

However, art has played an important role in modern politics, although how it does so has changed greatly over time. Artistic forays by politicians have not only made headlines in recent months but fundamentally changed the way politicians campaign and approach the public in general.

An early and famous instance of artistic influence in modern political history was Bill Clinton’s famous saxophone solo. In 1992, the Democratic presidential candidate serenaded the audience of “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Clinton, with his sunglasses, broke the mold of traditional politics.

Clinton ended up winning the election, so his casual approach likely struck a chord with some voters. Although this tactic was used to simply familiarize voters with the candidate, Clinton’s performance helped him connect with voters on an emotional, personal level.

Another notable time when arts influenced politics occurred when Clinton was on the presidential ticket — this time at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

When a version of the “Macarena” by Los del Río was played at the DNC, the whole building seemed to exude energy and excitement. Footage of delegates and politicians dancing — including then First Lady Hilary Clinton — was aired. If the DNC’s “Macarena” phenomenon is any indication, the political world’s key to achieving this appealing, informal feeling is embracing art.

The 2024 election cycle is equally — if not more — ridden with artistically enhanced politics. It is also the first presidential election in which both primary candidates have tried their hand at short-form social media content via their own TikTok accounts. Of course, both candidates use their newly acquired platforms to share their political and social beliefs with younger generations.

However, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s informal campaign account, @KamalaHQ, plays into viral trends, demonstrating its efforts to leverage its online presence to sway young voters.

One of Harris’s biggest artistic moments this year was the support of musician Charli XCX, who posted “kamala IS brat.” The tweet — which gained millions of views within hours — refers to the title of the pop star's newest album, “BRAT.” What better way to reach young voters than through the voice of a chart-topping artist?

Charli XCX wasn’t the only high-profile artist who endorsed Kamala Harris. Harris’s rallies regularly feature A-listers from the music and film industries like Eminem, Spike Lee, and, recently, Beyoncé. Taylor Swift announced that Harris had her vote — propelling her fan base to the polls in the process.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has also forefronted artists on the campaign trail, including Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood. The Democratic support offered by more famous stars has been interpreted by some Trump supporters as desperate or proof that such artists are part of a deep state conspiracy.

Ultimately, both candidates are targeting certain subsets of voters via rapidly evolving platforms rife with artistic content. On TikTok alone, many users have already capitalized on the upcoming election using art forms like dance, comedy, and pseudo-anchor style reportage.

This relatively new artistic and political cycle continues. Politicians keep manufacturing or harnessing contemporary art forms, and voters keep responding to it with rapt attention and art of their own. How this dynamic will ultimately sway 2024’s presidential election remains to be seen.

—Staff writer Giselle P. Acosta can be reached at giselle.acosta@thecrimson.com.