-OPINION-
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that something’s not right in the world of entertainment. It doesn’t matter if you’re a die-hard conservative or just someone who’s sick of hearing about “intersectionality” at every turn—chances are, you’ve noticed how everywhere you look, the culture seems to be hijacked by one side of the political spectrum. It’s not just politics anymore; it’s in everything. Music, movies, TV shows, social media—it all feels like it’s drenched in liberal values and woke ideology. And the frustrating part? We conservatives have mostly let it happen.
Sure, we’ve argued against it. We’ve pointed out how woke Hollywood has turned into a place where movies glorify far-left ideas and demonize traditional American values. We’ve called out the bizarre, virtue-signaling content that constantly pushes diversity and inclusion to a point where it’s not just about telling good stories anymore; it’s about checking boxes. But despite all of this, we haven’t really done much to fix the problem.
So, we’ve been sitting on the sidelines watching the left claim the cultural high ground—meanwhile, we’re over here either angrily ranting on social media or making our best arguments in front of a group of people who already agree with us. And while those things are important (don’t get me wrong), they aren’t moving the needle where it matters most—in the culture.
So here’s the thing: conservatives need to get artsy. No, I’m not talking about some watered-down version of “art” that fits neatly into the conservative echo chamber. I’m talking about creating meaningful, entertaining, compelling content that speaks to the heart, stirs up emotions, and resonates with a wide audience—content that reflects the values we hold dear without feeling like a political lecture. We have to stop playing defence and start creating the kind of culture we want to see. Conservative films—and—films just without any hidden political messagings—just good stories.
First, we can’t talk about reclaiming the culture without first understanding how the left has built such a dominant position in the world of entertainment. The left didn’t just happen to get into this power—they engineered it. They were strategic. Over the last few decades, they’ve worked relentlessly to infiltrate every cultural institution: Hollywood, the music industry, social media, publishing, schools, social causes, and even the world of art. They didn’t do it with a single, obvious push but rather with a long-term strategy to shape public perception.
Think about the movies we’re watching today. When was the last time you saw a character in a major Hollywood film who embodied traditional values—patriotism, faith, family, traditionalism—without that character being portrayed as a villain or an outdated relic of the past? You’ve got superheroes that push progressive ideologies, stories that center around “marginalized” voices, and plotlines designed to hammer home politically correct talking points. Films like Emilia Pérez, The Marvels, Conclave, Barbie, Blink Twice, Get Out—have all been used as vehicles for progressive messages, even when it wasn’t strictly necessary for the plot. It’s not just about telling a good story anymore; it’s about making sure the story fits into the larger progressive narrative.
And, take a look at what’s going on in music. I mean, I watched this years Grammys—you’ve now got pop stars stars aligning with liberal causes, singing songs about climate change, immigration, and social justice. Same story across the board now. Artists are now less concerned with making timeless, catchy music and more focused on virtue-signalling their allegiance to progressive causes.
And let’s not forget the influence of social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have become some of the most influential platforms for shaping public opinion, and guess what? They’re overwhelmingly liberal. Algorithms prioritize content that aligns with progressive values—wokeness, “inclusivity,” and identity politics. Conservative voices have been shadow-banned, censored, or de-platformed for stepping outside the acceptable narrative.
It wasn’t an accident that all this happened. The left made a concerted effort to infiltrate and take over these spaces. They understood the power of storytelling, of emotion-driven content, and how much influence art could have on shaping minds and molding culture. Meanwhile, we conservatives have been mostly playing catch-up, pointing out flaws in liberal content but not offering much in the way of alternatives that could challenge the mainstream narrative.
We’ve got to stop waiting around for Hollywood or the music industry to change. It’s not going to happen, guys. It’s time for us to stop complaining about “woke culture” and create something better. But let’s be clear about this: getting artsy doesn’t mean just producing content that parrots our values without any real thought or depth. It doesn’t mean preaching to the choir. It means being creative, using the full power of art to create narratives, songs, and stories that not only reflect our values but do so in a way that’s universally engaging. And let me tell you, it can be done.
We need to remember one thing: art doesn’t have to be “serious” to have meaning. The left has won the culture war in large part because they’ve made their progressive ideas emotional, and they’ve done it in a way that makes those ideas feel normal and even desirable. Think of how much of the media landscape is dominated by movies or TV shows that center around characters or narratives that reinforce progressive themes—whether that’s the rise of the LGBTQ movement in TV shows, or how climate change and environmentalism are shoved down our throats in every new blockbuster.
Now, imagine if we, as conservatives, took that same energy and put it into the creation of art. We could have thrilling action films, captivating dramas, amazing horror films, and epic sagas that celebrate everything we value—family, hard work, liberty, faith, and freedom—but do it in a way that’s cool. We could produce stories about resilient families, about individuals who stand up for what’s right, about communities that band together in the face of adversity—and not make it feel like we’re reading from a policy manual like these works of “art” are doing right now. We’ve got the stories. We’ve got the values. What we need now is the creativity to make those things resonate with a broad audience.
The key here, though, is connection. The left doesn’t win because they’re always right—they win because they create content that connects with people emotionally—and people today are incredibly controlled by their emotions. It doesn’t matter if their message is half-baked or downright inaccurate—what matters is that they can create a world in which their ideas feel real. This is where we’ve fallen short. We’ve been so obsessed with fighting through debates and intellectual arguments that we’ve forgotten how powerful storytelling can be. People don’t just change their minds because of a well-crafted argument; they can change because something moves them.
That’s where we need to focus our attention—on producing stories that are both emotionally gripping and true to our values. And let’s not pretend this is an impossible feat. There are more than enough talented conservatives out there—writers, musicians, filmmakers, YouTubers, TikTokers—who could be making content that challenges the current narrative in a way that speaks to both the head and the heart. There’s a huge market for these kinds of stories, and people are desperate for something that doesn’t feel like they’re being lectured to. What if instead of demonizing people like us who care about traditional values, we humanized them, told their stories, and let the world see the richness and complexity behind their beliefs?
We need to create media that resonates not just with conservatives but with everyday people who are tired of being force-fed one ideology. We need to make content that anyone can watch and think, “Hey, that’s my life. That’s something I can relate to.” But we also need to make sure that content is unapologetically us, too, when we create art that is political—conservative, patriotic, pro-freedom. But, again, not a lecture or something abstract and open to interpretation enough that everyone can enjoy it.
So how do we do this? First off, we need to support the creators who are already out there making art that aligns with our values. Whether it’s backing independent filmmakers, following conservative musicians, or subscribing to conservative-run media outlets, we need to be proactive in putting our money and our attention where it counts. And we need to encourage the next generation of creators to get into the game.
Second, we need to stop worrying about what Hollywood thinks and start making our own content. The rise of streaming platforms, social media, and independent filmmaking means there’s never been a better time for content creators to break through the noise. It’s easier than ever to get your voice heard—and if we don’t start taking advantage of that, we’re going to keep falling further behind.
So here’s the bottom line: we have to stop waiting for permission to make the kind of content we believe in. The left doesn’t have a monopoly on creativity—they just decided to make things that resonate. And we can do the same. It’s time to start creating the movies, the music, and the stories that speak to everyone—not just exclusively to ourselves. And if we do it right? We’ll not only shift the conversation, we’ll finally create a balance we so desperately need right now.