Despite a few more recognisable names (er, Kid Rock) due to appear than last time, this will not be the cultural event of the yearIn the quaintly upsetting era of George W Bush’s presidency, there was something people liked to pompously call the “cultural opposition”. This was made up of figures in popular culture pushing back against Bush, and 20 years later it may be imagined their spiritual heirs are limbering up for equivalent duties. The first formal opportunity falls next week with Donald Trump’s inauguration and, just as leaders in the tech and business worlds have failed spectacularly to rally against him, so a sense prevails that among certain artists and influencers there has been a gentle softening of spines too.This is a general observation and also one located in the figure of Carrie Underwood, the country star scheduled to sing the national anthem in Trump’s honour on Monday. Underwood, a 41-year-old who came to prominence via the fourth season of American Idol, may se...
The article argues that the cultural opposition to Donald Trump, which was strong during his first election, has weakened in his subsequent inauguration.
The author uses Carrie Underwood's decision to sing the national anthem at Trump's inauguration as an example, suggesting that a prominent singer-songwriter like her would not have performed for Trump in 2016. This perceived softening of resistance among artists and influencers reflects a broader trend of reduced opposition from the cultural elite.
The article argues that the cultural opposition to Donald Trump, which was strong during his first election, has weakened in his subsequent inauguration. The author uses Carrie Underwood's decision to sing the national anthem at Trump's inauguration as an example, suggesting that a prominent singer-songwriter like her would not have performed for Trump in 2016. This perceived softening of resistance among artists and influencers reflects a broader trend of reduced opposition from the cultural elite.
