Though I disagree with some of the opinions expressed here (we're allowed, I'm not going to unfriend Sophie (lol)) you've illuminated here why art needs to be understood by political types.
In my own experience in journalism, political writers tend to look down on elements of culture like cinema. It's about who has the best narrative and the Dems lost on narrative. These are useful reflections, but if there's a general lack of nuance in most film crit, it's a hundred thousand times worse in politics. It's been interesting but also discouraging to observe as an outsider. It differs from pundit to pundit but the lack of artistic/cultural awareness is bad.
We expect our politicians to know something of history, and we should expect them to know the arts.
Thanks for this - absolutely hear what you're saying. Upon reflection, I realize I should have dialed up the satire of this article in the upfront as much as in the conclusion. I'm not a political scientist nor do I cover elections. I'm a film commentator/critic - whatever we call ourselves these days. What I'm hoping we take away from this however is essentially your point - there's a lot we can learn from films, not just history. The messaging/campaign tactics are fundamentally flawed over the Democratic party so this essay just attempts to shake up the reality of what it's dealing with on the other side (at least right now, in the Trump era). There's a reason Bernie had and still has such a cult-like audience. There's something to be learned from it all. It's a sinister look, which is why hopefully is not to be taken extremely seriously, but I suppose that's the purpose of satire in the first place.
I think its excellent. You succeeded in that wonderfully. I hope that my comment was not seen as too pessimistic either!! It's something to laugh about as much as it's something to mourn: the loss of understanding of the importance of narrative in politics. I loved it!
Your writing is a revelation.
BRENDAN 🥹 Thank you for saying that!!! I write my best insights when I'm (mildly) angry.
Though I disagree with some of the opinions expressed here (we're allowed, I'm not going to unfriend Sophie (lol)) you've illuminated here why art needs to be understood by political types.
In my own experience in journalism, political writers tend to look down on elements of culture like cinema. It's about who has the best narrative and the Dems lost on narrative. These are useful reflections, but if there's a general lack of nuance in most film crit, it's a hundred thousand times worse in politics. It's been interesting but also discouraging to observe as an outsider. It differs from pundit to pundit but the lack of artistic/cultural awareness is bad.
We expect our politicians to know something of history, and we should expect them to know the arts.
Thanks for this - absolutely hear what you're saying. Upon reflection, I realize I should have dialed up the satire of this article in the upfront as much as in the conclusion. I'm not a political scientist nor do I cover elections. I'm a film commentator/critic - whatever we call ourselves these days. What I'm hoping we take away from this however is essentially your point - there's a lot we can learn from films, not just history. The messaging/campaign tactics are fundamentally flawed over the Democratic party so this essay just attempts to shake up the reality of what it's dealing with on the other side (at least right now, in the Trump era). There's a reason Bernie had and still has such a cult-like audience. There's something to be learned from it all. It's a sinister look, which is why hopefully is not to be taken extremely seriously, but I suppose that's the purpose of satire in the first place.
I think its excellent. You succeeded in that wonderfully. I hope that my comment was not seen as too pessimistic either!! It's something to laugh about as much as it's something to mourn: the loss of understanding of the importance of narrative in politics. I loved it!