The Trumpian Kitsch: A Symphony of Power and Control
Make the Orchestra Great Again? Not likely with JD Vance playing the cello
In the United States of Trumpland, the latest spectacle is a symphony of power and control, painted by the maestro of Trumpian kitsch, Jon McNaughton. This inspirational painting, titled 'Maga Symphony', depicts Trump as the conductor of a bizarre orchestra, where politicians and cultural figures are Making the Orchestra Great Again. The lineup is a curious one: Marco Rubio leads the violins, JD Vance takes the cellos, Roger Stone and Trump's sons are on double basses, and Tom Homan plays the horn. But here's where it gets controversial... Elon Musk, the joker in the pack, is on electric guitar.
McNaughton's vision is a political seance turned into sound, where the players perform through Trumpian telepathy. This concept of the orchestra has a long history, dating back to the 1930s, when dictators and presidents saw it as a symbol of power and control. The idea of the all-powerful conductor, inspiring total command and obedience from his musicians, has been a source of inspiration for autocrats from Hitler to Stalin to Mussolini.
However, the reality of an orchestra is far from harmonious. The best orchestras are models of controlled chaos, where the tensions between individual wills and the collective create a dynamic culture. The conductor is not a despot, but an inspirer, guiding the musicians to create a permanent state of flux, volatility, and creative negotiation. This is the true essence of orchestral music, and it's a far cry from the populist shorthand of autocracy and demagoguery.
The Trump image is a troubling reminder of the dangers of such thinking. As Elias Canetti wrote in his book 'Crowds and Power', the conductor has the power of life and death over the voices of the instruments. This idea of absolute control and obedience is a dangerous fantasy, and it's one that we must be wary of. So, while the Association of British Orchestras' annual conference may inspire a more collective vision for the future of the orchestra, we must also be aware of the potential for autocratic thinking to creep in. And who knows, maybe an enterprisingly craven orchestra will sign up Trump as their next music director. Stranger things have happened.
