Joanna Dee Das, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis
Comedians like Stephen Colbert might mock the entertainment mecca, but live theater is in too much of a crisis to dismiss the town’s formula of spectacle meets story.
For many extremist groups, a primary goal is to spread their ideology. Costumes and uniforms – even ridiculous ones – are a form of spectacle that can garner attention and interest.
As a candidate, Donald Trump – whose relationship with the WWE spans nearly 30 years – emulated the bombastic style of a pro wrestler. As president, it might be doing him more harm than good.
While hugely popular for a time, the advent of the three ring circus invited animal cruelty complaints and led to the demise of more skilled circus artistry.
Performance politics has made Donald Trump the new president of the United States. But this is far from new to south India, where the mixing of cinema and politics has a long history.