Staff ReportsIn the grand spectacle of American culture, it’s often said that politics is downstream from culture. This adage rings as true as a church bell at high noon. Currently, as 2026 rolls around with its Super Bowl extravaganza, many conservative critics look around at the cultural landscape and see a battlefield. The problem? They’re showing up to the culture war without the cultural ammunition. For all the noise about being “culture warriors,” it seems some have forgotten the “warriors” part of that label. Critics from conservative corners are noticing something strikingly obvious: it’s hard to defend your turf when you’re not even in the game.
A common gripe among conservatives is the sorry state of Hollywood and the publishing industry – bastions of liberal dominance where conservative voices are as rare as hen’s teeth at a vegan potluck. The content is bemoaned as empty, painting a doomed picture of American values lost. But here’s the kicker: while there’s plenty of content creators, the scene sorely lacks culture creators – those who infuse their work with a deeper sense of community and traditional values. Become the makers of culture, not just its critics, say some of the shrewder minds.
Now, imagine a bustling marketplace where everybody’s selling oranges, and you’re there lamenting the lack of apples. There’s opportunity knocking on the door, and if conservatives want to make applesauce, they better start planting some apple trees. There’s a massive, underserved audience longing for fresh, life-affirming content, and it’s ripe for the taking. People are being nudged farther away from the arts sector’s liberal leanings, and there’s a treasure trove of talent among conservatives waiting to paint on that fresh canvas.
Of course, critics often ask if there’s something in conservatism itself that shuns artistic expression. Could it be that the conservative ethos is innately at odds with the free-spirited nature of art? It’s a question with no easy answer. Some of the brightest creative minds have leaned conservative, albeit in whispers – the likes of Cormac McCarthy and perhaps a Coen brother or two. They’ve carved out niches in an overwhelmingly liberal domain, suggesting that conservatism isn’t necessarily anti-art. It’s a matter of fostering a supportive environment for artistry to thrive which hasn’t been quite cultivated yet.
As conservatives mull over the next step in this so-called culture war, the goalpost is clear: champions of traditional values need to transition from merely observing the game to getting their cleats dirty on the field. They need to uplift and invest in the arts substantively, making a place at the table for cultural production, not just cultural consumption. As the curtains rise on the next act of this cultural saga, will conservatives step into the spotlight? It’s a plot twist we’re all waiting to see unfold.
