Since Waldo was literally an image on a screen, there were people behind the screen doing all the talking. I like to think that today's politics is different than this, yet it is not. Political parties choose a face to represent their beliefs and to say what the people want in order to get elected. Just as Waldo was a face to get votes, politicians such as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were faces with teams behind them telling them what to say to win the election. Waldo said many profanities and made fun of people to get votes. Trump did the exact same thing. Clinton said whatever she was told to say in that moment in order to get people to vote for her.
I like to think of Trump and Waldo as being similar for different reasons. Trump was new to politics, just as Waldo was a new figure in the field of politics. Waldo was a comedian and Trump is a business man. Being new to the field, many people like myself found it to be a relief when he decided to run for office. For many years, we have had career politicians in office who seem to not be genuine. While Trump has said many things that he should not have, it makes me feel as though he is an actual person rather than a robot that says what he is told to. I have said many things I probably shouldn't have, just as he has. Though I am not the one who is the president elect, it's strangely comforting to know that the next president will be genuine, no matter how hurtful his words have been. Clearly I am not the only one with this view point, as he is the one who got elected.
The entire film was so interesting to watch. Being able to compare the events in it to real life is slightly scary. It shows that every day people are sick of how politics are today. So many people voted for Waldo, and that shows that elections are not even taken seriously anymore. While the president is just one person, his influence can make this country a better place.
3 comments:
Rebecca,
It is refreshing to see a level-headed response to this topic. It is evident that politicians are supported by networks of lobbyists, who entrust and associate a candidate's unique personality with their preferred political agenda. Unfortunately, both candidates were characters. The unconventionality of Trump was a useful tactic, although derogatory at times, that garnered unprecedented support. Clinton's approach was structured, and tactful; a common approach that did not incite the same emotional response that helped Trump win the election.
Hey Rebecca,
I like how you ended with the comment about how the president is just ONE person, but he can make this country a completely different place. I completely agree with this. The president, however, has people to help him with the decisions he makes and people who can stop him from making certain decisions. But a lot of the blame or the credit is given to the president himself. Also, how in the film Waldo is someone who is out of the ordinary in the eyes of politics but that could be something that the country needs. Change.
I think its such a coincidence that a cartoon character running for president would actually have so many similarities to a presidential candidate . I absolutely love how you incorporated the aspects of Trump being so similar to Waldo that in a sense if Black Mirror were to do another more updated version that coincides with the things going on in society Trump would actually be our "Waldo". I love at the end how you make the comment of the president being one person but that the president truly has an impact on making this country a better place. I think that very important to show that Americans were ready for a change from the typical political system and Trump was that change.
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