How to Spot a Democrat (or a Republican) – the Arts & Partisanship

Just kidding – a little.

These are partisan times. It is like we want to know which side of the divide someone is on before we can actually listen. And to make that easier for us, we have many ways to send our political message without wearing a donkey or elephant pin. 

LANGUAGE is one of the core cultural differentiators and separators. Being the only English speaker in a room full of German speakers, one can feel a bit isolated. Sometimes we use dialects or colloquialisms to differentiate. I admit that I only understand one word in four when the sportscaster reviews a game – and it’s in English!  In Why Democrats & Republicans Speak Different Languages, Derek Thompson of The Atlantic explores the polarizing effects of partisan language. Comprehensive health reform? Immigrants vs illegal aliens? 

FASHION. The way we dress and the brands we choose send progressive or conservative messages. Representative Jim Jordan’s refusal to wear a sport coat screams rebellion. And, Ilhan Omar? Talk about a political as well as a faith-based message. And don’t get me started with the face mask controversy! Zoe Whitfield of Refinery29 explores the topic in What Does it Mean to be Political with Fashion.

FONT. Yes, that’s right. I said font. I tested the theories in this article, What Your Favorite Font Says About Your Political Leaning, by Arianne Cohen (Journalist) & Katherine Haenschen (Virginia Polytechnic Institute) and found immediate agreement. Who knew?!

All this makes me want to end with this quote:
“If only the whole world could feel the power of harmony.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart