Kamala Harris, with the Democratic Party, aimed to seal her nomination as a attempt to steer America’s course in her favour. Contrarily, a more encouraging perspective stated, ‘America craves improved narrative.’ JD Vance proclaimed that Biden’s reign ‘won’t conclude our tale,’ while Donald Trump courageously urged fellow Republicans to ‘forge our own captivating segment of the American tale.’ As we stride through the political landscape of 2024, the concept of ‘story’ has taken center stage, swaying the dynamics of American culture with its omnipresence.
This election year’s political conventions, like several before, are rich tapestries of strategically constructed stories, all meticulously designed to achieve the ultimate goal of gaining power. Subtly overshadowing them is an intense showdown about shaping an overarching narrative about America. This is the ‘vision for America’ which, cited in Harris’ words, ought to be ‘another magnificent segment in the most incredible story ever narrated.’
The tale of America, definitely an unanticipated journey marred with unexpected turns that sometimes, to the amusement of many, feels ‘like a movie,’ assumes great cultural importance for distinct reasons. Interestingly, America’s societal fabric is one of the few that is constructed, not on centuries of shared culture, but narratives themselves, manifesting in slogans like ‘the shining city upon the hill,’ ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ ‘all men are created equal,’ et cetera. The campaigns have grasped this unique trait and are leveraging it with voters by presenting contrasting narratives of the American story.
The version from the Republican corner can be distilled as a pledge to ‘make America great again’; a forward movement powered by restored traditional values and a reliving of our intellectual vigor and audacious resilience of yesteryears. In his rally speech, Trump invoked the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II to exemplify the nation’s glorious history. The GOP embellished this vision with icons such as musician Kid Rock, celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan, and Lee Greenwood’s rendition of ‘God Bless the USA.’ Trump humbly acknowledged the bravery of firefighter Corey Comperatore, tragically targeted in an assassination attempt.
JD Vance argued against ‘antagonists’ while recounting his Appalachian upbringing in ‘Hillbilly Elegy.’ Emphasizing military strengths, the Republicans, as is their style, brought forward families of fallen soldiers to expose the ‘feeble’ leadership under President Joe Biden. In striking contrast with the Democrats, their every effort was aimed at protecting the interests of their followers. Remembering the vegetarian preference of Vance’s wife, for instance, wasn’t left out in the conventional tat on the Republicans.
Democrats, on the other side, through their recent convention, unveiled a future that boasted of ‘joy’ devoid of what Pete Buttigieg labelled, quite figuratively as ‘Trump’s politics of darkness.’ With Harris exemplifying a multiracial, multicultural nation, Democrats were evidently scrambling to take back the grounded chunks of the American narrative that had coasted towards Republicans lately. National symbols and the concept of liberty were aplenty; an evident strategy to outweigh the Republicans.
John Mellencamp’s ‘Small Town’ was played as Tim Walz made his entrance, resonating the vision of America that Republicans usually herald. Senator Amy Klobuchar bestowed accolades upon the quintessential traits Walz encompasses — capable of changing an automobile light, a hunter, a ‘plaid-clad dad.’ The procession of beefy guys in Mankato West Scarlets jerseys, synchronizing to the ‘Halls of Montezuma,’ glorified his history as a former geography teacher and football coach.
Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican critic of Trump, broke ranks to uncharacteristically advocate for Democrats, asserting that ‘fellow Republicans, the Democrats are as patriotic as us.’ Through the narrations and endorsements of both conventions, the spotlight was dominantly on ‘character-driven’ narratives. Whether advocating for abortion rights or cautioning against illegal immigration or expressing discontent about inflation, ‘typical’ Americans became the narrative structure to articulate national concerns.
One could argue that the proliferation of narratives is a reflection of the democratization of storytelling. With platforms like X, TikTok, Instagram, and Truth Social now at hand, we are all publishers and storytellers, crafting micro versions of the American story according to our perspectives. The voices that have been quieted for too long are gradually gaining momentum and garnering attention.
However, this democratization poses the question: how can we harmonize the American story when millions of narratives exist, each with unique viewpoints? While giving a voice to the unheard is a worthwhile endeavor, it’s also indisputably chaotic and challenging to navigate. ‘Unity is strength,’ stated poet Amanda Gorman at the DNC. But with a flood of stories, is unity an even more daunting task than before? Is a solitary, unifying ‘American story’ plausible? Or even desirable?
The current state of affairs has ramped up the significance of storytelling in these elections. The narrative that resonates the most, spun with the sophisticated and powerful communication tools of today, triumphs. As we inch closer to Election Day, the manipulation and amplification of these narratives are likely to intensify.
Consequently, as long as the American nation endures, there will be countless interpretations of its essence — some desperate, some furious, some hopeful, and some compelling. Narratives are powerful tools, strong weapons, and potent metaphors. Echoing Walz’s sentiment, we can confidently assert, ‘It’s time to leave Trump and Vance behind; I’m stoked to flip the page.’
One thing is certain, as inevitable as the waves lapping on a shore: the story of America is continually being rewritten, redefined, and re-understood by every individual who calls this grand and diverse nation home.
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