1、 Problem posing

Against the backdrop of political polarization in the United States, the connection between popular music and electoral politics is becoming increasingly close. Taylor Swift's public support for Democratic candidate Harris has attracted widespread attention. Pop music, as a convergence point of cultural practice, has become a lens for understanding the changes in American society. The widening wealth gap in American society has made political polarization a prominent phenomenon, and the field of popular art has become a new high ground for the struggle between the two parties. Political elites use "dog whistle politics" to convey subtle political information to specific groups of people. Although "dog whistle politics" in popular music is subtle, it is an important perspective for understanding social and political changes. There is an increasing amount of research on the relationship between music and politics in both domestic and international academic circles, but there is a lack of research that combines the perspectives of different actors to analyze how popular music affects election politics. This article takes the 2024 presidential election as an example to analyze the political use of popular music by presidential candidates, musicians, and voter groups in the era of political polarization, in order to deepen our understanding of the relationship between popular art and election politics.

2、 The 'Dog Whistle Politics' from the Perspective of' Music Power '

Explored the complex relationship between music and power, particularly how popular music became an information carrier for "dog whistle politics" in the context of political polarization in the United States. The connection between music and power is both explicit and implicit. Music not only reflects social power structure and capital interests, but also affects group identity and power relations. The creation, production, and consumption of political pop music in the United States involve political elites, musicians, and voter groups who communicate and interact through pop music. Political elites use popular music to win votes and spread political ideas, musicians either praise political elites or criticize power to express their attitudes, while voter groups use popular music to strengthen their collective consciousness. The political polarization in the United States and its expression in popular art have a deep-rooted socio-economic foundation. Political polarization first occurred among political elites and later expanded to group emotions, forming political tribalism. In the polarized era, popular music has become an important information carrier for "dog whistle politics", with political elites, musicians, and voter groups playing different roles in it. Emotional polarization amplifies the differences in music taste among different groups, making popular music consumption patterns more fragmented. Political elites and voter groups are users of the popular music "dog whistle", while musicians are producers and providers of the "dog whistle". The collusion between popular music and "dog whistle politics" is not only based on their respective needs and interests, but also a social subconscious shaped by American historical traditions, political systems, and socio-cultural environments.

3、 The Political Use of Pop Music in the 2024 US Election

Explored the political use of popular music in the 2024 US election, revealing how the confrontation between cultural populism and multiculturalism affects election politics. Political elites consolidate their base and win over neutral voters by carefully selecting music, such as Trump using music with patriotic and Christian ethical colors to guide populist ideas, while Harris attracts voters of different ethnicities and genders through diverse music styles. Musicians intervene in electoral politics by embedding political information in their music, publicly expressing political positions, or authorizing the use of music to gain benefits. The voter group expresses political ideas, establishes community awareness, and distinguishes between friend and foe through consumption and discussion of popular music. The "dog whistle politics" in popular music has become a link for voters to express potentially provocative political ideas and a means to establish community relationships. The article also analyzes three opposing relationships between American cultural conservatism and multiculturalism: rural people and cosmopolitans, housewives and independent women, and orthodox Christians and awakeners. These opposing relationships are reflected and strengthened in popular music.

4、 Conclusion

Discussed how popular music became a tool for social and political polarization and the "culture war" in the polarized era of American society, and how this trend exacerbated social division and diverted attention from wealth inequality and class contradictions. In the 2024 presidential election, "dog whistle politics" spread extreme ideas through popular music, further intensifying political polarization. Fukuyama predicts that Trump's second term will lead to intensified polarization in the United States and a decrease in social trust. American political elites may continue to use the "dog whistle politics" in popular music to attract votes and intensify political divisions within the pop music industry. The American people may become the biggest losers. Alleviating polarization, rebuilding trust, and promoting dialogue are long-term challenges facing American society.