Everyone Loves A Freak

Why partisans flock to public figures who play against type.

By
37
Kanye West. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP/ Getty Images.)

May I interest you in a concert, fellow music-lovers?

Running for Senate these days as a Republican means pandering to populists in the stupidest ways, but this may be the first time I’ve seen a candidate try to signal his cultural authenticity by spitballing a concert line-up.

I wonder if Eric Schmitt can name a single track from either of the men he mentioned. But if he couldn’t, would it matter? He doesn’t want to see Kanye West and Kid Rock on a bill together because he likes their music. He wants to see it because he likes their politics. Or, rather, because he knows the Republican base likes their politics and he’s keen to earn cheap “one of us” points with them.

Maybe he’s ahead of the curve. In an age when culture is increasingly politicized, we might yet arrive at a point where partisans are obliged to prioritize solidarity over pleasure even when choosing which music to listen to. Imagine Kanye striding out onstage circa 2025 to perform “Gold Digger” to a crowd of blue-rinsed red-state boomers clapping arrhythmically through pained smiles.

Create a free account
Access additional articles and newsletters for no cost, no credit card information needed. Continue ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
37
By
Comments (37)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Celebrity worship is neither anything new, nor anything particular to the Right. It’s an American thing. And always has been. C. S. Lewis noted back in the 40s or 50s that England has nobility and Americans have celebrities. Why are American conservatives so worked up about Kanye? May as well ask why the American people care so much about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

    “ Commentators have been performing armchair psychiatry on that question all week.”

    They might start by looking in the mirror. Seriously.

    “ A party whose highest ambition is to performatively spite the libs is destined to attract, well, performers.”

    As opposed to the party that (checks notes) spent the last 70 years campaigning alongside musicians and movie stars? The Left certainly had more of a monopoly on dumb celebrity takes for a long time. But, to be fair, this isn’t a right or left thing. This is an American thing. I love America. But we can be pretty stupid sometimes and this topic is a prime example.

    Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    Bono Vox

    From Roger Waters to Donald Trump, with Kayne West stick in between like a stuck token in the machine ….Pigs. Three different ones.

    Collapse
  3. Bloodredinabluestate

    It's ironic that the same GOP candidates and elected officials who praise Trump as a "fighter" allow themselves to be whipped by him. I read the imbedded link about JD Vance and Trump at the Vance rally. Whew, talk about letting someone kick your dignity to the curb and thanking him for it.

    Collapse
  4. Avatar photo
    MarqueG68

    I have to say: This has to be some of the finest political writing around. Truly appreciated.

    Collapse
  5. Avatar photo
    Epl20

    Great piece. I like the layout of the new website, but it would be helpful to the reader if the name of the author or newsletter was included next to the title in the "Worth Your time" section on the right of the homepage.

    Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    LJKeating

    Outstanding- love the Animal Farm reference. And I had time to read the whole thing (sometimes you go a little long).

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Cschande

      He wrote shorter pieces when he was at HotAir. My guess is he’s been writing longer due to the weekly/biweekly newsletter approach here at The Dispatch. But now that he seems to have been given permission to post more often, we can probably expect more manageable-length posts like this one. Here’s hoping! The more AP/Cattogio, the merrier.

      Collapse
  7. Lainie Cleghorn

    "To follow American politics now is to feel crushed anew each day by the immensity of its unseriousness."
    So sad. So true.

    Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Blakethesnake

    I think as a society we’ve just stopped caring about issues and instead look to individuals. It’s the only explanation for complete 180s on policy positions. And like people used to defend their policy positions absolutely, they now defend their “people” the same way. There is zero room for nuance. We do it with politicians, pastors, celebrities - everyone. The hilarious part about Kanye, specifically, is that everyone HAS to be aware of his bi-polar disorder at this point, but they still jump head first into the excitement of him being on “their side” without remembering this has happened before - multiple times. And it doesn’t even take another news cycle to pass for him to say something (and I realize I’m not supposed to label it this, but I’m not a writer and can’t find a more apt word) crazy. I get the temptation, but I guess I don’t understand our country’s obsession with celebrities. They’re generally valid and worthless outside of their specific skill set. Why do we care what they think at all?

    Collapse
  9. Gaelanconnell

    Well said!

    Collapse
  10. Sooneradam2009

    "To follow American politics now is to feel crushed anew each day by the immensity of its unseriousness."

    The articulation of this feeling has eluded me until this sentence. This is exactly right.

    Collapse
    1. Brocka121

      My favorite line too

      Collapse
Load More