Hollywood's Conservative Awakening: A Case of Empty Calories?
A stroll around my London neighborhood recently interrupted me when I spotted a young man sporting a "Reagan-Bush '84" T-shirt. The casual display of conservative aesthetics sparked a thought - has the right wing's cultural influence reached a fever pitch? The notion that conservatism is making a comeback, particularly among Gen-Z conservatives in the US, seems undeniable.
As Brock Colyar noted, this resurgence marks a turning point since the 1980s. With the British and American cultural spheres increasingly entwined, it was only a matter of time before I encountered a Republican T-shirt in my own backyard. The US right's long-standing aspiration to dominate culture has now materialized - albeit with some caveats.
Critics like Helen Lewis hailed The White Lotus as "the first great work of art in the post-woke era" following its latest season. Kevin Maher proclaimed that "woke is dead," and middle-aged white men are back in vogue, citing Mel Gibson's return to prominence. However, Sydney Sweeney's trajectory offers a different narrative.
Sweeney has been touted as representing a return to traditional beauty standards after starring in the advertising campaign for American Eagle. While some saw the ad as flirting with white supremacist eugenics, others hailed it as a refreshing change. The young actress has been linked to Republican voter registration and has sparked controversy over her response to criticisms about her alleged ties to white supremacy.
Sweeney's latest film, Christy, suffered a poor box-office performance, raising questions about the right's dedication to disrupting Hollywood. While buying a political T-shirt is an easy commitment, having to sit through a biopic to prop up a conservative lead star is less so. The right will find it challenging to manufacture popularity, especially when compared to the record-breaking Bad Bunny.
The core issue lies in conservatism's failure to become cool - not because of any genuine appreciation for art and culture, but rather as a means of edgy provocation. Even prominent conservatives like Kelsey Grammer have acknowledged this. Hollywood's woke film successes, such as Sinners and One Battle After Another, underscore the ongoing relevance of progressive values.
Ultimately, people will queue up for what they want to watch and listen to - not based on ideology but quality. Sydney Sweeney should focus on showcasing her films rather than focusing on her physical appearance. As it stands, she is the one looking a bit lost in the conversation.
Will the right's cultural ambitions prove sustainable? Only time will tell if their efforts will yield any meaningful results or simply amount to empty calories.
A stroll around my London neighborhood recently interrupted me when I spotted a young man sporting a "Reagan-Bush '84" T-shirt. The casual display of conservative aesthetics sparked a thought - has the right wing's cultural influence reached a fever pitch? The notion that conservatism is making a comeback, particularly among Gen-Z conservatives in the US, seems undeniable.
As Brock Colyar noted, this resurgence marks a turning point since the 1980s. With the British and American cultural spheres increasingly entwined, it was only a matter of time before I encountered a Republican T-shirt in my own backyard. The US right's long-standing aspiration to dominate culture has now materialized - albeit with some caveats.
Critics like Helen Lewis hailed The White Lotus as "the first great work of art in the post-woke era" following its latest season. Kevin Maher proclaimed that "woke is dead," and middle-aged white men are back in vogue, citing Mel Gibson's return to prominence. However, Sydney Sweeney's trajectory offers a different narrative.
Sweeney has been touted as representing a return to traditional beauty standards after starring in the advertising campaign for American Eagle. While some saw the ad as flirting with white supremacist eugenics, others hailed it as a refreshing change. The young actress has been linked to Republican voter registration and has sparked controversy over her response to criticisms about her alleged ties to white supremacy.
Sweeney's latest film, Christy, suffered a poor box-office performance, raising questions about the right's dedication to disrupting Hollywood. While buying a political T-shirt is an easy commitment, having to sit through a biopic to prop up a conservative lead star is less so. The right will find it challenging to manufacture popularity, especially when compared to the record-breaking Bad Bunny.
The core issue lies in conservatism's failure to become cool - not because of any genuine appreciation for art and culture, but rather as a means of edgy provocation. Even prominent conservatives like Kelsey Grammer have acknowledged this. Hollywood's woke film successes, such as Sinners and One Battle After Another, underscore the ongoing relevance of progressive values.
Ultimately, people will queue up for what they want to watch and listen to - not based on ideology but quality. Sydney Sweeney should focus on showcasing her films rather than focusing on her physical appearance. As it stands, she is the one looking a bit lost in the conversation.
Will the right's cultural ambitions prove sustainable? Only time will tell if their efforts will yield any meaningful results or simply amount to empty calories.
. I mean, sure, it's great to see people expressing themselves, but when it comes down to it, is it really about the ideology or just a bunch of edgy provocation? 
It feels like conservatives are trying way too hard to fit in and be "cool" rather than actually having genuine conversations about issues that matter. I'm all for free speech and individuality, but when it's just a bunch of shallow politicking, I'm not buying it 
. Give me something with substance over some empty calories anytime 
like she's the poster girl for the right wing movement... meanwhile, bad bunny is still breaking records and Sweeney's latest film tanked 
. anyway, I think the article hits the nail on the head - conservatism doesn't have what it takes to be cool or edgy, its all just a bunch of empty calories 
. people are gonna watch whatever is good and popular, not whatever aligns with their ideology 
. and honestly, Sweeney's focus should be on her acting skills, not her physical appearance 
. the right wing might have its moments in the spotlight but they'll never be able to replicate the cultural relevance of woke Hollywood 
, you know? Like they're trying to make her a poster girl for some generic conservative aesthetic instead of focusing on actual talent 
. And let's be real, if people are only going to watch movies because the lead actor is "conservative", then that's not really conservatism at all - it's just a shallow attempt to appeal to the masses 
. I mean, where's the depth in that? Where's the substance? Give me a break with all this "woke" vs "not woke" nonsense and just focus on making good art 
. Empty calories, indeed 
The idea that conservatism is making a comeback feels kinda weird to me... like they're trying really hard to be cool but are just not quite hitting the mark. I mean, have you seen some of these T-shirts? 
. AND LET'S BE REAL, SYDNEY SWEENEY ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO BEING A REPUBLICAN VOTER REGISTRATION SUCCESS STORY 
meanwhile, sydney sweeney's focus on her physical appearance is just a symptom of a deeper problem - our culture's obsession with appearance over substance. 
.
. Otherwise, it sounds like just another case of people talking out of their hats 
. And honestly, I think we're still a long way from seeing conservatism become "cool" 
. The right's biggest problem is that they can't seem to make art or culture that's actually worth watching or listening to 
. And let's be real, it's hard to deny the influence of social media in shaping cultural trends. But on the other hand, I'm worried that this resurgence is more about spectacle than substance. Like, is buying a certain T-shirt or watching a particular film really gonna sway people's opinions? 
I think people will keep choosing what they want to watch and listen to based on quality, not ideology 