How will artists react to President Trump?

Late in the evening of Nov. 8 of last year, a wildly entertaining electoral battle was fought before all Americans. But what was just as entertaining was reading and hearing the massive outpour of emotions and intense reactions from our country’s entertainers and artists. Think about your favorite actor or musical artist for a moment. Then, check their Twitter feed. There is a very high probability if you scroll down to early November, you’ll see some sort of election reaction, which was almost unanimously negative.

But that’s just how the entertainment and artistic bubble thinks. Artists have always aligned themselves on the more liberal side of the political spectrum, which has contributed greatly to the idea in this country that the left tends to be cooler than the right. When everyone cool in life, from George Clooney to Julian Casablancas, expresses their more liberal ideals, and all the right has to show is “Duck Dynasty” and Ted Nugent, this is the result you get.

Now, will the next four years truly be a dark time for the country? I highly doubt it. However, I do think artists will think otherwise and hurl themselves onto any opportunity to make the days seem darker than they really are.

That being said, I believe artists actually enjoy troubling times, as they are often the sources and catalysts for some of their greatest work. Some of the most terrible times in history have also produced some of the most substantive, truly meaningful art. Gleeful, lighthearted music is nice for a bit, but it is the raw, emotional music that sticks with us — the music that bravely ventures into the deepest parts of being human.

As a consumer, this is a win-win. For one, I personally don’t have to live in the “The-World-is-Ending-Because-of-Trump” bubble for the next four years like these artists will. And the real benefit for me will be the fantastic art that could result from this chaotic time quickly approaching us. What exactly will that art be like?

Foxygen, a fun-sounding indie band from California, will release a wild, orchestra-infused album later this month and was recently interviewed by Music Feeds about this topic. Sam France, the lead singer of the band, for one, thinks “Trump is going to be good for Foxygen,” as the band’s music will now be crafted toward serving as an escape for people.

“But maybe now because of Trump, maybe what we’re going to start seeing is people wanting to escape. Not just go to the movies and see the world getting blown up or some dark edgy art. Maybe we’ll see a return to musicals,” France said.

The concept of music serving as a mental escape is one that has been experimented with for years. Regardless of the artist’s original intent in its creation, people have always been able to use visual and auditory art as a way to forget the not-so-fun things going on around them. Is there a correlation between grumpy, despondent artists and amusing, expressive art? Do happy times produce downcast songs and films, while troubling times produce lively, happy ones? What if music is constantly created as a form of escape, and the only thing that changes is what the music is an escape from?

If we get nothing but bubbly musicals and sugary love songs for the next four years, fine, but I don’t think that’s how it’ll be entirely. Artistic escapes aren’t required to go to Candy Land, they just need to go somewhere different. No matter where that place may be, or whatever direction these artists go next, I am certain that great works will continue to be made, no matter the circumstances.

Andrew Hall is a UF management junior. His column appears on Fridays.