ThereOften shakes headThere's talk that Donald Trump has picked a fight with one of the biggest celebrities in the world, Taylor Swift.
TrumpI was surprisedwhenSwift endorsesKamala Harris has sparked fascinating discussions about how much change her endorsement will make, and how important the arts and culture world is to the political world.
As the leader of an organization that exists on principles that are incredibly important, I have to speak out on this.
The founder of my organization isNorman LearA legendary TV producer, Norman truly believed that if we could entertain people, especially if we could start a conversation with laughter, we could have conversations about difficult subjects. He believed that the stories we choose to tell and the art we choose to make could move us towards better civic life.
He took a break from television appearancesAmerican Way PeopleWith a commitment to using the power of art and artists to drive social change.
He understood this power because he was creating television shows that were changing our culture and our politics.House of JeffersonFor example, when Bea Arthur’s character makes the difficult decision to have an abortion on the show, “mode, “It brought these issues into the mainstream and helped them to be accepted.”
Throughout world history, social change movements have embraced art and artists. They are known for their songs and symbols.Marseillaise,Ballads from the 1960s civil rights and anti-war movementsKendrick Lamar's Anti-RacismToday's music.
And artists of all mediums are making their voices heard in this election. As the website Artnet put it in a headline:Arts community supports Kamala HarrisOrganizers of star-studded concert “Musicians for Kamala” pointed out “Music moves people to action.”
It is co-chaired by two outstanding visual artists, Shepard Fairey (the iconic Obama “Hope” poster) and Carrie Mae Weems. Artists Campaign for Democracy My organization is proud to be able to support.
Several artists have voiced their support for Trump, but a search reveals:An incredibly long list of musicians have called on Trump to stop using their songs.“
What these artists understand is that while politicians appeal to voters' heads with statistics and policy documents, art appeals to the heart – it can move and inspire people in ways that traditional political messages cannot.
I believe when artists speak out, whether directly through their work or through the credibility and public platform that their work gives them, their voice matters.
Now, many people are trying to prove it quantitatively. Taylor Swift's adIt moved Harris' poll numbers.They're also counting a surge in visits to voter registration sites.Vote.govafter Swift posted the link.
But I'm not sure this is a job for a statistician.
ofhowlingWhat Trump, Elon Musk and others on the far right say means something. We feel it. It reminds us of the old saying, “A beaten dog will cry louder.”
It’s no wonder that online reactions to Swift from the right include:A blatant misogynistic metaphorWhen confronted with a challenge from certain prominent figures to the far right, sexist and racist sentiments inevitably come to the surface.
(Laura Ingraham says to LeBron James, “Shut up and dribble?』
Norman Lear did not believe, and neither do I, that art and popular culture belong in one silo and politics in another. We should welcome and not underestimate the participation of artists in the political process.
I'm not saying Taylor Swift can save democracy singlehandedly, but I'm glad she's willing to pitch in.
Svante Myrick isAmerican Way People.
