Spinal Tap and Hollywood’s Liberal Disconnect
This Is Spinal Tap’s backward showbiz parody predicts Hollywood liberalism on the wrong side of culture and history.
This 1984 mockumentary was funny because it nailed the arrogance and cluelessness of entertainment elites. It showed how self-importance can blind performers to the realities that matter to everyday people. That tone has only grown more relevant as Hollywood doubles down on political posturing.
Spinal Tap mocked performers who live inside their own press coverage. Today, the same pattern plays out when industry figures lecture the public from a safe cultural bubble. The result is a widening gap between creators and the audiences who fund them.
That gap matters for more than reputations. It hits the bottom line when audiences tune out movies and shows that feel preachy or detached. Conservative viewers notice when cultural institutions push agendas that clash with their values, and they vote with their wallets.
Hollywood’s reaction has often been to retreat further into its echo chamber. Instead of listening, executives reward art that flatters their worldview while sidelining mainstream tastes. This approach fuels distrust in cultural institutions and feeds a narrative of elite contempt.
Critics argue this is just the natural evolution of art and ideas. But when a single outlook dominates decision making, creativity suffers. The industry risks producing content that plays well at award shows but flops with the public it supposedly serves.
Part of the problem is performative virtue. Public declarations of moral superiority can look hollow when they come with celebrity entitlement. People respect conviction, but they also expect humility and accountability from the powerful.
There are practical consequences beyond ideology. When studios prioritize politics over market demand, they waste money and squander talent. Filmmakers who want to succeed learn to balance message and craft, or they face shrinking audiences.
A conservative perspective calls for respect for the audience and for traditions that resonate across communities. Film and television should aim to entertain and provoke thought without alienating half the country. That balance can restore cultural relevance and rebuild trust.
Artists can still challenge prevailing views while engaging a broad audience. The most enduring work in American culture has often combined storytelling with universal themes rather than one-sided lectures. That model works because it invites people in instead of pushing them out.
Comedy like This Is Spinal Tap succeeds because it punches up at ego and absurdity rather than at ordinary people. Satire can expose foolishness across the spectrum and bring people together through shared laughter. Restoring that spirit would improve the quality and reach of mainstream entertainment.
Hollywood has a choice: keep isolating itself or reconnect with the broader public that supports it. Realignment will take humility, a willingness to listen, and a focus on craft over conformity. The market will reward those who remember why people went to movies in the first place.