Tired of surveys? Do you believe it a little or not? Columnist and professor John Kenneth White of The Hill shares your weary sentiment.
If Professor Alan Lichtman predicted Kamala Harris's victory with his keys, White instead observes the values or trends of popular culture to determine the state of mind of his citizens.
There's a fun side to this exercise, but nothing says you can't have a little fun while covering politics.
From Woody Guthrie to Bruce Springsteen
In a very quick glance at a few elections, White goes back to 1940. That year, folk guitarist and singer Woody Guthrie presented poor Americans with an anthem that was intended as a critical response to God bless America By Irving Berlin.
Guthrie criticized Berlin's work for its blind patriotic aspect and its disconnect from the daily lives of many Americans. That's why he started writing This land is your land.
For White, the song was a vivid reminder of the early terms of Franklin Roosevelt, whose New Deals favored those who suffered most from the crisis. Roosevelt won the third election in 1940.
The columnist also focuses on the 1984 election, a convincing victory for Ronald Reagan.
This time, White points to three aspects of popular culture that foreshadowed Republican reelection. He first highlights the patriotism surrounding Bruce Springsteen's songs. Patriotism colors all the former actor's speeches.
The columnist adds to the president's songs the television successes that were Family ties and The Cosby Show. Family ties It introduced Michael J. Fox, whose character, at a very young age, was a fan of Reagan, while Bill Cosby's show presented a classic version of the American dream, but for a black family.
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Ted Lasso, good indicator?
This election cycle, Kamala Harris has already received the endorsements of two famous singers, Charli XCX and Taylor Swift.
If the first described him as “naughty” (daring), then the second, through his support alone, led to the registration of 400,000 new people on the electoral lists.
For the columnist, the most important revelation to consider is the success of the series on Apple TV+ Ted Lasso.
Followers of this series were amazed by the kindness, compassion, and decency of the hero of this series. Actor Jason Sudeikis, who plays Lasso, supports the Walz-Harris duo. Could Harris be the Ted Lasso of politics?
The columnist believes that a large majority of Americans need positivity and joy in their lives, and that constant division and hatred are draining them.
John Kenneth White's logic has its limits and weaknesses, but popular culture is often a reflection of who we are or what we want.
