Spectacle is a public display or dramatization of an event by a public figure to capture the emotion and critical thinking of the average person. It is rooted in appearance over substance. Meaning how something may look or feel will have more importance than the truth. Spectacle is mainly used as a distraction to control narratives and influence public opinion without using facts by controlling emotional appeal. When used correctly, spectacle creates distorted realities for misinformed or uninformed masses and contributes to the weakening of critical thinking in our nation. Some real-world examples in America today would be the slogan “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”. This quote reinforces the idea that America was once a great country and is not anymore because of one specific sides, actions and policies. Furthering the division amongst us. When the truth is, both democrats, republicans and independents have all contributed almost evenly to the managed decline of the United States. Spectacle is most common in politics but is used in sports, entertainment, music and merchandising. Presidential campaign slogans, protests and social movements and television shows/movies and films are the 3 greatest examples of Spectacle in modern day America.
Donald Trump has mastered Spectacle. Whether you like him or not he has turned his life into one big circus-like spectacle. Have you ever noticed that EVERY time Donald Trump speaks, he exaggerates his phrases and statements by using comedic exaggeration and reliance on superlatives. For example during the presidential debate against Kamala Harris he claimed that he has “the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics” or that he would “lead America to new heights of greatness like the world has never seen before” or that he could “stop all wars with just a phone call.” Committed to Hyperbole, Trump has taken the idea of “Spectacle” to a new level. Because of this rise in spectacle this is the biggest factor in my opinion in him winning the presidency. Most of his voting base doesn’t care about facts, research or knowledge. Most of them voted off pure emotion and feelings. And this is what I fear the most. A wave of citizens not considering facts or reasoning when dealing with pertinent issues. This is the dilemma that we have created for ourselves by letting a fascist- wanna be dictator into office. By diverting attention on critical issues through finger pointing, nothing will be changed, and the rich will continue to dominate the helpless, middle and lower class. Creating chaos through division is a pilar of Fascist ideology which Trump seems to be leaning towards as time goes on. In a Fascist regime, individual freedoms are lost through surveillance and censorship, critical thinking and education will be suppressed for the masses, religious and ethnic groups will become persecuted and democratic institutions will be destroyed. All of these oppose the ideas that America was “founded upon.”
The Democratic party is not free from this criticism. Democrats have also embraced spectacle in several ways that helped shape political narratives. Kamala Harris was the first female of Black and Asian heritage to become a vice-presidential candidate. The Democratic party used this highly symbolic moment as a time to show change and progress in America that hasn’t really occurred for blacks specifically. This can also be said for the Obama administration and their idea of “hope”. In all reality neither administration did very much for the black community as black people still face the highest poverty rate, are still disproportionately represented in the prison system, still face unequal funding disparities in housing and education. And experience significantly higher maternal mortality rates and struggle with several health disparities that other races in America do not struggle with at the same rate. All these problems are symptoms from having low socio-economic opportunities and having a lack of community. The Democrats will use Kamala Harris and Barack Obama as tokens of change trying to paint a picture that is not there. But please tell me, what successful black community is there in the United States today?… How do those two represent progress for the 20 million black people in America who live under or near the poverty line. Although black people voted for the democrats at a 90% clip in the 2024 election. Black Americans are not happy with the democratic party. The democratic party is just lucky to get their votes because the alternative to a democratic party vote is a vote for a fascist. But this can’t go on much longer. How much longer can the democratic party get away with putting Meg the stallion on stage with Kamala. Or D.L Hughley or Jay-z and Beyonce. Why are they only feeding blacks entertainment and not the tangible items that they want? Why aren’t the Claud Andersons and Dr. Umars of the world getting the opportunity to speak at these rallies and conventions…. Because it is all one big spectacle with no substance focused on capturing emotions. The same way I don’t give a fuck if Kid Rock is a speaker at the Republican national convention is the same for me when I say I don’t want to see Meg the Stallion shaking her ass on stage next to the democratic presidential candidate. As voters and educated citizens we need to do better and demand more out of our elected officials. If we don’t identify spectacle and reach for tangible items, then we will forever be stuck as a permanent underclass with no real representation.
The idea of spectacle is not new at all. American politicians have just taken it to another level to where we are impacted in pretty much almost every facet of our lives. French Royal Courts in the 17th and 18th century are very famous examples of political theatre. Ballets and operas were all created to show the political power, machismo and control that the monarchs at the time obtained. Hitler and the Nazi regime used spectacle as a tool almost as well as anyone in history. The Swastika became the central symbol of Nazis. The Swastika was on flags, coins, clothes, books etc. It represented power and authority. Hitler and his use of spectacle was how the Nazi’s controlled and influenced the German population. Through large scale propaganda films, large scale military parades and large-scale iconography. Hitler was able to manipulate the public and maintained power and control all while using spectacle to paint the Jewish people as the enemies.
My favorite example of spectacle would be the rise of movies, media and cinema. Throughout contemporary American history, film making has been an incredible home for spectacle. Movies like birth of a nation (1915), 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968), Braveheart (1995) and Gone with the Wind (1939) are all terrific examples of how movies can be filmed and told with a certain light that is used to persuade and change the narrative around events that happened in real life. Cinema quickly became the most important form of spectacle because it changed how people told stories in popular culture. Through movies, directors and producers can give their own context on political and societal problems or pressures that can help influence the mind of the masses. Many people think this is a problem, but I see the good and bad in both. In today’s world we have many outlets for people to tell their stories, but just because someone tells their opinion, does not make it truth. Spectacle can create a false sense of reality for many by shaping their perception into something that has been exaggerated. Think of how many people you know personally that have been so wrongly consumed by something because their information is cloudy. This is the struggle we see today in America when dealing with Immigration. But Trump continues to beat the horse and tell lies. Remember his quote “they are eating the dogs and cats” about Haitian migrants in America. Just a total and ridiculous lie that many people fell for.
Spectacle is a powerful resource that politicians, elected officials, entertainers, athletes, directors, writers all use in some form or another. Spectacle relies on engagement from emotional appeal and symbolism to shape the public’s perception to create memorable moments and events that can’t be forgotten. Spectacle can be used positively to help people by giving them a common ground to relate with or it can be used negatively to distract people and divide them on important topics. Everything written is written with some sort of opinion or context. Next time you are watching a politician, or your favorite entertainer speak/perform, think to yourself. Is this a spectacle and if so what is the bigger message here?
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