WKU professor discusses how pop culture plays a role in politics

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- An overnight hit by singer and songwriter, Oliver Anthony, called “Rich Men North of Richmond,” hit No. 1 on U.S and Global charts.

Anthony’s song speaks of a deep frustration with the state of government, with lyrics sparking conversation on a national stage. The song, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” was played and used for a topic at the Republican Presidential Primary Debate last week.

American Popular Culture Professor at Western Kentucky University, Dr. Tony Harkins, says, “Politicians want to seem like they are both sophisticated people, but also, of the people. So, the use of popular culture, or rather the integration of politics and popular culture, has a very long history.”

One hundred miles North of Richmond, Virginia, is Washington, D.C., so it’s no secret who this song is about, but Oliver Anthony was not pleased by the response of the political figures at the debate.

Oliver Anthony has become a very popular individual in the last few weeks, making a mark on popular culture. In a video on YouTube, Anthony says, “It’s a lot bigger than Joe Biden. That song is written about the people up on that stage, and a lot more too, not just them, but definitely them.”

Harkins says, “Politicians want to seem connected to the people, so they reference political pop culture songs or tv shows. Sometimes that can work, and sometimes that backfires.” Popular culture is an element of everyday life, and at times, politicians use it to relate to their potential voters.