There is nearly always a political undertone within our everyday lives. From fashion to music to general media consumption, our political and economic states are always reflected in pop-culture. You might see the things I will talk about as long shots, but if we look back on previous decades there is much insight through fashion, music and movies about the current and predicted socio-political swings.
An example of this is the rise of country influence in music. Big progressive artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have been incorporating the classic country twang tone about themes that are not considered conservative. Country music typically covers the topics of love, country-style culture and the values embodied by most people who engage within that culture. This genre has been growing and finding its way into the mainstream music consumption.
Another way which this is exemplified in society is through fashion. Brands such as PrettyLittleThing have rebranded themselves toward more elegant and modest fashion styles. Switching to materials that look expensive and that which are associated with wealth. A neutral colour palette, and distinct vibe that seems to be mimicking Banana Republic, a brand commonly associated with the upper class and the style they embody. Modesty is on the rise and people are getting tired of sexual explicitness being the common rhetoric surrounding sexual liberation. People are moving toward living private lives and keeping to themselves and those they find close. However, alongside this, we must consider the representation and similarity of the clothing worn and the inauguration earlier this year. There have been many similarities drawn between the clothing of women and the Handmaids Tale. A quick search on Google or TikTok will give a visual guide and videos explaining these scary correlations. Fashion is near always political. It is a marker of the state of society as well as how a person affiliates with politics.
Our world is always reflected with what we consume. Art is a reflection of what is happening in society and it is expressed and worn casually. We are walking political and social actors and we need to be intentional with the media we consume and the things we wear. Though I can say that the way you dress doesn’t matter, the music you listen to has to meaning and the media you consume does not matter. But, with the current things happening in our world, everything is political because politics is trying to affect everything.
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