Culture Editor Ally Olis dissects the recent cultural movements protesting the acts of the new presidential administration in America
Since the reelection of Donald Trump in January, the ability to poke fun at the futile state that America finds itself trapped in encapsulates the zeitgeist of American culture in 2025. From SNL skits, to award ceremonies the firm stances and advocacy for certain communities are laced among comedic irony and punch lines. The brutal reality of the situation presents daily executive orders that dissolve the department of education, prepare the national parks system for drilling, require university campuses to expel protesting students, and change the regulations surrounding passports for transgender people. In such situations where the majority of votes seem to be in favour of these ludicrous changes, it is those at the forefront of modern culture that are left to critique and question the feasibility of this administration, on behalf of those who have lost much more than the November vote. Culture in its truest form through music, film, television, art, literature, and theater has always been inherently political and rife with symbolism and pointed stances inspired by the rapidly developing world; the last few months of output content in America have been no different.
On 7 February 2025, Laverne Cox, an American actress predominantly known for her work on Orange Is the New Black, did an interview on the View, talking about the recent regression in legislation supporting trans people and gender affirming care since the new administration took office. She stated, “26 states banned gender affirming care for young people, this has been happening on the state level for many years. Trans families have had to relocate for many years, parents have been criminalized. Now it’s happening on a federal level…I think in terms of the administration and all this propaganda and lies– everything he’s doing is illegal by the way– so hopefully it will be challenged in the courts. At the end of the day trans people are less than 1% of the population. Trans people are not the reason you can’t afford eggs. They are not the reason you can’t afford healthcare. We’re not the reason you can’t buy a house or the rent is too high. I think they’re focused on the wrong 1%. I think the other 1% is the reason for those things.” Her statement that has since gone viral on the internet comes after the executive order issued on Trump’s first day in office stating that the government will only recognize two sexes, male and female.
On 9 February 2025, Kendrick Lamar headlined Super Bowl LIX, a performance steeped in symbolism about the revolution and freedom of speech, which left nothing to be desired from the Pulitzer Prize winning rapper. The set opened with a cameo from Samuel L. Jackson dressed as America’s infamous Uncle Sam, a mascot for patriotism and America’s sense of nationality. In a character crafted to represent the American political establishment and the prodding force of American media, he tells Lamar, “No no no, too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Then tighten up.” This exists in direct contrast to Lamar’s earlier statement in the show that “The revolution’s ‘bout to be televised you’ve got the right time but the wrong guy…” Followed by his dancers in a red, white and blue formation of the American flag with their backs turned toward each other in an effort to reflect America’s political divisions. Lamar, standing in the middle, split the flag as the lights in the crowd spelled out “WRONG WAY” which by the analysis of many is said to symbolize the realities of the country under the second Trump administration. The show’s art director, Shelley Rodgers stated that “I think it was symbolic. His way to reach young people.”
On 22 February 2025, the United States Army Choir performed a rendition of Do You Hear the People Sing, from the musical Les Miserables, at the White House Governor’s Ball in front of Donald Trump, JD Vance, and other respective state officials. The song, which is a notorious protest anthem about social revolution and opposing the ruling class, was said to be a surprisingly intentional choice by a group that is supposedly ‘called to serve’. The performance was quick to spark internet discourse among the socially active, who began to dissect the leaked clips for hidden symbolism and also question the efficacy of protest to a group that lacks literacy. A twitter user wrote, “ Art is historically subversive, and they carried on the tradition knowing the audience wouldn’t get it.” A democratic United States Representative, Jim McGovern, took to X to state, “They picked Les Mis- a musical about standing up to tyranny. They protested you at your own event and you were too stupid to get it.”
On 23 February 2025, at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, as Jane Fonda received the lifetime achievement award, gave a rousing speech referencing the political divide in the country. She stated, “I’m a big believer in unions… Community means power. Worker’s power is being attacked and the community is being weakened. We actors don’t manufacture anything tangible. What we create is empathy. Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or woke. And by the way woke just means you give a damn about other people…A whole lot of people are going to be really hurt by what is happening, what is coming our way. Even if they are of a different political persuasion we need to call upon our empathy and not judge, but listen from our hearts, and welcome them into our tent. We are gonna need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.”
America is undoubtedly under the political and social microscope as drastic changes are made everyday, dissolving long standing policies, and testing the stability of relationships with other nations. Despite the fact that around 77 million voters, have ushered in this new era of administration, the stances of the under-represented are as loud and rampant as ever through the cultural expression being derived from this period of time. Culture has always reflected the climate in which it exists, and the most tumultuous periods have often gave way to a flourish of art. This current timeline, no matter how objectively regressive, will be no different, and the content will continue to serve the voices of those who are overwhelmingly overshadowed.
