In time for Christmas, the office of the First Lady Jill Biden released a video showing the Christmas Decorations in the White House which showcased the Dorrance Dance company who performed their tap rendition of the Nutcracker Suite. For a video that is apparently released every year (many comparisons were made to Melania’s video during Donald Trump’s presidency) this one caused some controversy in excess of what one would expect for something that should be rather banal. Let’s examine what went right and wrong with this video and try to bring some sense to the matter.
election season
Whether we like or not, everyone is gearing up for another presidential election cycle. Joe Biden it appears will stand for re-election and that means everything released from the White House will be fair game for criticism. In politics, the edge is always given to the side you already agree with, so it should come as no surpise that an administration that has a 37% approval rating will have its detractors. In the game of democratic politics, incendiary criticism is always a good move. So then why would the Biden administration make a decision like this?
the presidency and culture
Some would say covering a "minor" event like this[1] [1.say in the face of war in the middle east] is unworthy of analysis. There's a reason this video went viral, and there’s a reason why cultural signals matter. In political science - distinctions are made between the head of state and the head of government. In most modern representative governments these roles are separate. The US system however combines these into one position - the President and by extension the First Lady. This means the Presidency is more than the executive of the government - it is also a symbol of what America “is” at this moment.
yes - it’s woke
It doesn’t take very long to find out how woke the dance company featured in the video is. Their menu clearly displays an “antiracism” tab featuring all the appropriate resources to “educate” oneself on the merit of the belief system. In true evangelical fashion this dance company has taken it upon themselves to be advocates for a system of thought. It also gives them a certain cache - after all how many tap companies get to perform for presidents?
It’s a slight digression - but it’s worth pointing out tap dancing and jazz music both have very strong American roots. This is not an imported art system, it calls to something uniquely American and in the right venue - both are enjoyable art forms. However, art is rarely good when it’s imitating greatness. The grace of ballet and the beauty of Tchaikovsky’s original score overshadow this novel rendition.
why people really hate it
Let’s separate ourselves from the upcoming political cycle. Certainly this isn’t the first controversy of the Biden White House, especially in the “cringe” category, but this seemed to garner particular vitriol. Speaking simply it was a poorly executed video. The choreography quality largely depended on the dancer, and the direction was far too hurried. Tap is a rhythmic art form, one that is difficult to capture in high audio fidelity. This fact led to a horrible production decision. The entire video used a “dubbed” over tap sequence which made the entire video feel off. This is something that everyone noticed even if they didn’t know why. So instead of hearing the difference between marble, carpet, and wood - all of which were present in the video - everyone listened to a lackluster rendition of the sequences performed on a sound proof foley stage.
Would people still have mocked the video if this element was executed properly? Yes, but the Foley fiasco in particular turned the video from a poorly planned oddity to a viral mockery.
push and pull
As mentioned above, the role of the Presidency is just as symbolic as it is the executive of the largest government on Earth. In practice, the First Lady’s role is entirely symbolic. Holding no real power, she uses her position and status to further extend the soft power of the Presidency. There’s an interesting question when analyzing art commissioned by modern governments. Namely, whether they want the thing to be ugly to confuse the people, or if the artist themselves should never have been given the opportunity. Every time you can be programmed to say something ugly is “actually beautiful” you move one step away from being able to rely on your own judgement and one step closer to being in their control.
In the production meeting you had everything one needed for a holly jolly woke-infused Christmas Performance.
A Christmas Classic
Add diversity
Make it unrecognizable
Shove it down the people’s throats and tell them it’s good
The finished product isn’t as important as the concept because the concept can always be changed to suit their narrative.
REALLY enjoyed the writing and insight on this one. Nicely said!